THE long established Connect 2 Wiltshire Hopper, unlike regular buses, provides a door-to-door service, akin to a taxi, which is essential to enable many people, including myself, to get to the RUH.

All Wiltshire households in the RUH catchment area are potential users of the service and I feel the community as a whole, directly and/or indirectly, should participate in safeguarding its future, including the jobs of the drivers and members of the team.

I offer the following simple solution to the current dilemma: a) A fair and reasonable fare increase. I disagree with Councillor Osborn. The current fares are unreasonably low.

b) Wiltshire Council – where everybody matters – assumes sole responsibility for providing and funding the service (they've made a good job so far). This would avoid reliance on the CCG and NHS and the uncertainties this presents. I include the full cost of running the service in 2016/17 and subsequent budgets and any project deficit (subsidy) in the council tax funding. The effect on council tax bands would be insignificant.

The Hopper is vital now and will remain so in the future. One may not need to use it today, but circumstances can change tomorrow. It must not be axed.

R Styles, Brookfield Rise, Whitley