Letters: New bus machine is just the ticket at identifying passes

Of the more than half a million concessionary pass transactions we recorded electronically last week, our records show that there was a problem with about one card presentation in every 5,000 – these instances were due to the pass being damaged, not to any fault with a ticket machine.

While I empathise with Dr Cummins' frustrations, our driver was acting within both the rules set down by Transport Scotland and our policy guidelines to withdraw his pass and to provide him with a replacement seven-day paper concession pass. The damaged card will be returned to Transport Scotland and Dr Cummins' local authority (Angus Council) will produce a replacement card for him.

Our drivers are at the core of our business and have an exceptionally good reputation throughout the industry, receiving continuous training and support particularly in customer care, with more than 97 per cent of passengers stating in a recent survey they were more than satisfied with driver attitude and behaviour.

At Lothian Buses we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of transport technology and the new ticket machines are part of our overriding strategy to provide our passengers with the most convenient form of public transport and are most certainly ready to face the busy summer season.

Ian Craig, managing director, Lothian Buses

Labour legacy to blame for mess

SARAH Boyack spoke about the failures of the Lib Dem-SNP council (News, 20 May). She talked about the school-building programme, the ongoing bin dispute and mismanagement of the trams. Sarah should tell the whole story. It was her Labour Party that was in charge and when they got booted out of office they left a right mess behind.

There was no money left, even the reserves were gone.

And as far as the trams, well, Labour voted against the SNP and now the people of Edinburgh will pay a high price for the trams.

Sarah Boyack and her party were in power with the Lib Dems for eight years, so schools and the NHS should have been OK, but no, blame someone else.

And it is a Labour government that left a legacy of high unemployment.

Immigration is out of control and the country has been left bankrupt. Labour should never get back in power again. That's twice they have brought this country to its knees; remember, it happened in the 1970s.

William Farmer, Frogston Road, Edinburgh

Help available for domestic abuse

I WRITE in reference to your article 'Council accused of ignoring domestic abuse against men,' (News, 2 June).

To suggest that the council does not take domestic abuse against men seriously is entirely wrong.

Domestic Abuse is wholly unacceptable in any form and the council is committed to tackling it wherever it exists. Any case of domestic violence that is reported, regardless of gender, is responded to in the same way by council staff and by the police.

Earlier this year we launched a campaign to highlight the issue of domestic violence and encourage victims to get help. Our message to people who suffer from domestic abuse is that help is available.

Cllr Paul Edie, Community Safety Leader, Edinburgh City Council

Marathon man is an inspiration

MARK Cooper, the 27-year-old man from Mountcastle, is a true inspiration (News, 31 May).

He is running 50 marathons in 56 days and has now passed the halfway mark in his challenge, running 1,300 miles from Amsterdam to Barcelona to raise money in memory of his mother Sheila, who sadly died when Mark was only 14.

What a wonderful thing to do to honour his mum.

Best wishes to Mark.

June Fleming, Hercus Loan, Musselburgh

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