I WRITE in response to the well-publicised proposal to cut bus services in some rural parts of Dorset.

I am informed that amongst others the X12 service is likely to be removed from the schedule and as such I wish you to note my objection in the strongest terms.

I am a pensioner living in Blandford and a non-driver.

I have been using the X12 (and indeed the 184 before that) since approximately 1976 on a regular basis, primarily to get from Blandford to Salisbury in order to get to the railway station to visit my family.

I would point out that there is no other reasonable way to get from Blandford to the National Rail Network's west country services. I acknowledge that rail services run from Poole to Southampton and London and that bus services are still in place to get there, which is pleasing. However for me to visit my family I need to get to Wales and the West Country and expecting the public to travel via Southampton and Reading is isolating, unreasonable and infuriating.

To visit my family am I expected to pay a return taxi fare of £100 per trip?

As a Senior Citizens bus pass holder I am grateful for the free travel to and from Salisbury, however I would be more than happy to give up this privilege and pay the appropriate fare in order to ensure that the X12 service is maintained.

Whilst I am using my specific example to make my point, I would also add my voice to the arguments to reconsider all proposals to cuts to services in rural parts of the country as I am sure that I am not an isolated example (yet!) of how these cuts may effect people in a similar situation to myself.

Mrs D Symmons

Blandford Forum