THE late ''Old Labour'' County Councillor, Eric Treadgold, on hearing the details of the proposed Redditch free bus pass scheme, said: "This is all fine and dandy but what about the housebound or those who go without to run a little car, because there's no such thing as free travel?

"If there is any spare cash going, add it to the old age pension and let people choose priorities," he added.

He was absolutely right because, in the end, it is the council taxpayer who has to foot the bill.

Let us be perfectly honest with ourselves; the subsidy paid by Redditch Council to the bus company has not been increased in real terms in years, while the £3 million subsidy to bus companies in the county, paid by the county council, is generous to a fault.

But the legal niceties and the economics of public transport are lost on many old folk, especially those who served their country during wartime and then suffered post-war difficulties. When they see the generous treatment meted out to the selfish and irresponsible, they get very cross.

Corporate management should be a more moral, intelligent and economic utilisation of scarce resources. The setting of priorities of expenditure.

Councillors Gavin Smithers and Diane Thomas have had the courage to grasp the nettle.

The New Labour councillors and their backroom manipulators should hang their heads in shame.

County Councillor Tom Wareing

Jays Close

Winyates Green