I AM writing to seek your help in publishing a reply to an anonymous complaint I have received about bus services subsidised by the council.

The complainant says: "Are you aware there was a Y4 bus missing on Thursday night, March 25, Foxwood Lane to Osbaldwick and again on Saturday night March 27? What a waste of council money!"

I can assure the complainant that, in this case, the council was aware of these shortcomings in service provision through its arrangements to monitor service delivery by its contractors.

In consequence, the matter has been taken up with the contractor as a breach of contract and the contract price will be adjusted accordingly.

Only a sample of subsidised services are monitored, so reports of shortcomings in the service from the general public are welcomed by the council's Transport Planning Unit at 9 St Leonard's Place, York YO1 7ET.

Such reports should be accompanied by contact details in a case a complaint is contested by the bus company and there's a need to verify details with the person complaining.

Thankfully, such failures are rare, representing less than two per cent of subsidised journeys in 15 of the last 18 months.

Overall, in round figures, the council spends £400,000 each year subsidising bus services which would not otherwise exist, and which cater for 500,000 passenger journeys.

It believes this expenditure represents good value for money for the people of York.

Terry Walker,

Public Transport Planner,

City of York Council.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.