I WOULD like to reassure readers that the comments made by J Samuel (Letters, March 6), which asserted that the new 50p day ticket will not be available to bus users in Stockton Lane, are incorrect.

City of York Council is negotiating the introduction of a 50p day ticket for concessionary bus fare pass holders with all the companies providing bus services in the city.

On successful completion of these negotiations it will be possible to buy a day ticket from whichever company provides your local bus service.

However, each ticket will only be valid on that particular company's buses as at the moment, bus operators will not accept tickets from other companies.

Pass holders wanting to travel in and out of York from Stockton Lane will be able to travel on Yorkshire Coastliner buses for the same 50p fare that will be available on First York buses.

Meanwhile Mrs Burton inquired about the planned changes to the council's public transport concessionary fares scheme (Letters, March 11).

I can assure Mrs Burton that bus pass holders can, if they wish, surrender their bus pass and switch to receiving tokens instead. If this is done at the Guildhall during April, they will receive the full £50 allocation of tokens.

If it is done later in the year, there will be a proportionate reduction.

Switching from tokens to bus pass is best done in April as, otherwise, the council would require a proportion of any tokens issued to be returned.

The scheme offers a straight choice between tokens and bus pass and the above arrangements ensure that no one obtains more benefit than other eligible claimants.

Martin Revill,

Head of transport planning,

City of York Council,

St Leonard's Place, York.

Updated: 10:15 Tuesday, March 16, 2004