November 1 was the first weekday without the 16A bus that connects Acomb shops with Acomb, Holgate, the city centre and Monks Cross.

First York has stopped the bus without any reason being given. This makes their already hit-and-miss service even worse. It's amazing how they have recently increased the over-serviced and under-used numbers one and four routes but have cancelled the popular 16A route that provides the only access for many people - including many of the elderly - to Monks Cross and Acomb shops.

The 16A was brought back, after being previously cancelled, because of demand but with the promise that First York would review it and stop it if the service proved unpopular.

From my experience this is not the case: the service is popular with many Acomb residents and is often very busy, although the absurd scheduling of the bus at the same time as the number ten lessens the impact.

If First York did operate a policy of reducing unpopular routes and improving the service of busy ones then the over-crowded number ten service would have been improved long ago.

I feel that First York has got its priorities wrong and should look at other routes - such as the number four which often appears in twos because they are so regular - to see which others deserve improving or making less regular.

Philip Lickley,

Wheatlands Grove,

Acomb, York.

Updated: 10:03 Friday, November 05, 2004