SIR: I refer to articles in (BEN August 28 and August 31) concerning free bus passes.

I believe the whole issue needs revising.

It costs me 64p a day each to send my two children to the nearest church school. A total of £6.40 a week. When my third child starts school in two years time the sum, on today's fare, will jump to £9.60.

The distance to school is over two miles but under three. A distance which, I think, is too far to expect them to walk in all types of weather.

Would it not be fairer to do away with free bus passes altogether and charge a nominal bus fare, say 20p, for all of our school children?

It does not seem fair to me that two wage earning parents with one child who live three miles from school should be subsidised by parents living under three miles from school who may have more than one child. The cost on the school buses of 32p a journey is the same wherever you live in the Bolton area, be it a ten minute journey or a 20 minute journey.

J M Kennedy, Kermoor Avenue, Sharples

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