In the article "Defiant bus chief says village route will stay" (July 30), Mr Edwards is asking: "What right do people who do not use the service have to make demands on those who do?"

The answer is simple. Residents have the right because they live along the bus route and are impacted by the high frequency bus service regardless whether they use the service or not. During the meeting quite a few residents highlighted that they felt strong vibrations in their properties whenever a bus is passing. On Murton Way and Osbaldwick Lane this happens 12 times every hour. These residents are concerned this will cause structural damage to their properties.

Mr Edwards has the right to run the bus service through Osbaldwick, but with every right you exercise you also have to accept responsibilities. However, he only appears to accept that he has responsibilities towards his customers, but ignores his responsibilities towards the residents that live along the bus route.

Also, "Mr Edwards said he believed the bus company was taking an unfair proportion of the blame for high traffic levels." Unfortunately, due to the introduction of the high frequency metro bus service, these buses have become the most frequent HGVs through Osbaldwick. The buses are by far not the only HGV through Osbaldwick, but with about 1,000 buses per week they outnumber any other HGV.

Oliver Starzynski,

Osbaldwick Village and Murton Way Action Group.

Updated: 09:34 Saturday, August 03, 2002