TWO days ago I received an email from Wiltshire Council consulting me about the future of supported bus services.

I tried my best to answer the questions in the consultation truthfully, but I have access to a car and because of my age and not knowing how long I will continue to drive, I had difficulty with many questions.

Thinking more about it, I realised that the questionnaire and the process is loaded against the bus user.

I see from the Times that the questionnaire is available from the council website and council offices. I suggest that a great number of bus passengers who use the subsidised services don’t have a computer, don’t read the Times and will know little about the consultation.

It is mostly the old, sick and less able members of society who are having to absorb a great deal of the cuts. Is this what society wants?

If the council wishes to get bus user views then the questionnaire should be available and collected on the buses, particularly on the routes that might be affected.

I have now read a few items in the Times about the subject and I know I am not alone in wishing to make the council think more deeply about the matter. For one thing, it goes against the council policy to encourage bus use to reduce congestion.

If routes are cut, it will increase many people’s feeling of being cut-off, so leading to depression and thence to extra burdens on the NHS and social services.

Politicians are famous for creating “unintended consequences”. Let’s not do it in this case. Let’s uphold the slogan: “where everybody matters”.

So the council is being forced to save money. Well Michelle Donelan suggests asking central Government to look at the distribution of central grants to local authorities. She says: “There needs to be an adjustment within the current budget so that counties like Wiltshire do not lose out”. Wiltshire Council should follow up this lead and meet with Ms Donelan to determine how best to approach government.

The bus operators must be saving money by the reduced cost of fuel. The council could renegotiate some subsidy. The council could sell the old West Wilts District Council site, if it hasn’t done so already. Is it also possible that a levy on planning applications might contribute to bus operation?

I hope that many more people will add to the discussion. We must all ask: “What is the Wiltshire Council for, if not to support the weaker members of our society?”

David Feather, Broadley Park, North Bradley