Madam,

The smiling picture of our local MP declaring in The Shuttle: 'It looks like we are going to lose all our buses.' followed by some drivel that they could perhaps be replaced by 'an app' was extraordinary.

Diamond buses are losing £1 million a year and they clearly need a subsidy to keep going - as a lot of public transport does all around the world. Buses are a lifeline for many people across Worcestershire and with climate change an increasing threat we surely need more people to be using buses. Not leading the world in scrapping them.

I assume that Mark Garnier MP must have somehow missed the many announcements about 'Levelling-up' by the Government. (The party he is an MP in).

The Queen Elizabeth Line (Crossrail), which has just opened in London cost £18,900 million. Worcestershire clearly does not need an East-West rail line partly underground.

What Worcestershire needs is a reliable bus service to help people get around and get on with their lives. Especially younger and older people - and those who are struggling financially. Particularly after the 2 years we have had with Covid.

The cost of that one London rail line would keep bus services running across Worcestershire for over 18,000 years! If Levelling-up means anything it must include a reliable bus service in Worcestershire surely?

Clive Wood

Madam

You reported on a 29-year old being sent to prison for 6 months for telling some lies about who was driving when a car was clocked doing 64mph in a 50 limit.

We read regularly that the prisons are totally overcrowded and chaotic. Why is this situation being made worse by imprisoning people for basically trivial offences, regularly committed by the majority of the motoring population? The young man will probably now never work again because of his prison record.

The West Mercia Police spokesperson said: 'The case shows how seriously speeding offences are taken.....Enforcing the speed limit is a priority for us'. Tell that to those who have suffered a burglary or other serious crimes. Police will generally not even attend after burglaries now.

After a vehicle is logged for speeding the police send out a simplistic form to the owner requiring a single Yes or No answer to the question: 'were you the driver?'. I was sent such a form after an incident where someone had named me as the driver of a vehicle I do not own or recognise. My request twice for evidence (photos, etc) was refused and I was told that if I did not answer either Yes or No I would be prosecuted for 'failing to identify the driver', a much more serious offence (!). I discussed this with a (retired) magistrate who advised me that I stood no chance in court as, contrary to what we all believe about British justice, for most motoring offences you are guilty unless you can prove your own innocence. I ended up with 3 points, a £100 fine and an extra £150 on my insurance premium.

Name supplied

Madam,

Robin Pearson expressed concern about the lack of grass cutting on some local verges. Leaving the verges alone is actually a good thing for nature as uncut verges provide flowering plants for our much needed pollinators and other insects as well as a home for many animals.

It also reduces pollution from the tractors and saves money for local councils. Worcestershire County Council mow 5,000 miles of verges, which is equivalent to 1,800 acres of potential wildlife habitat, twice a year when only one cut per year is needed. Many progressive local authorities, such as neighbouring Gloucestershire, routinely only mow verges once a year and this is often devolved to parish council who are able to meet local needs.

Obviously some vegetation needs to be cleared regularly to improve visibility at junctions and roundabouts but there is no reason why country lanes cannot be left until the wild flowers have set seed for next year.

As regards council funding any move that reduces costs to our County and District councils will reduce the need for further increases in Council Tax. Further information is available from Plantlife.

Terry Green