The Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 contains the statutory provision for free bus travel after 9.30 Monday to Friday, all day Saturday plus bank holidays.

In addition local auth-orities retain the discretion to offer their residents other travel concessions such as concessionary travel before 9.30am on weekdays, tokens for taxis and concessions on other modes of transport such as trams (you did not need to be a clairvoyant to know which option South Kesteven District Council would choose).

That we have not all these options in South Kesteven – especially the taxi tokens – is simply because the council does not want us to have it.

Coun Craft said the council is a business. All my teaching on local democracy suggests that a local council, consisting of elected members, has a duty to provide a service to the community who elected them, bearing in mind at all times the duty to ensure value for money.

I refrain from commenting on Coun Craft's opinions on the competence of the other six Lincolnshire districts except to suggest he might not be on their Christmas card list this year.

What must be challenged however are the remarks about the council not being deflected by "short-term adverse publicity" South Kesteven along with Lincolnshire may well be "true blue" but things can change.

Councils and councillors can be voted in and voted out!

Electors' loyalty can be tested too far. You need go no further than Boston.

Finally is the statement "The Government may play fast and loose with your money, but this Conservative council will not."

A bit of jolly old gung ho here, but very much a matter of opinion.

The council might believe that the reported £17,000 to give all-day travel is playing fast and loose.

I view as very much playing fast and loose the £100,000 or so spent on chips in wheelie bins, the £300,000 plus needed to cover the unexpected costs of the grandiose upper tier of management and the several failed schemes to develop Bourne Town Centre.

I have a great deal of respect for all councillors, for the sacrifices they make and the work they do.

If Coun Craft was to say that in their opinion pensioners do not deserve all-day free travel I would respect him more than reading the load of flimsy reasons and excuses outlined in his letter.

Bryan Grantham
Willoughby Close,
Corby Glen