I TOTALLY agree with James Woodman (Shuttle/Times & News, September 29) that the bus deregulation carried out by the last government, has bought about the present shambles, just as the privatisation of the railways brought chaos to that industry.

No-one knew who was running what.

The deregulation has allowed anyone to apply for a licence to run a bus service, and what is the outcome? Mechanically faulty buses; buses which run late or not at all; buses which do not run after 6pm in some areas, thus forcing people to use taxis, at higher cost.

Can someone from County Hall tell me what are they going to do next April when free travel for all OAPs comes in.

Are we going to get free bus and train travel as they do in the West Midlands?

J WEBB

Baxter Gardens

Kidderminster