I'M writing in support of the Worcester North park-and-ride scheme. I've found the service to be reliable and efficient and the buses to be modern, clean and comfortable.

The week-day price of £1 per car gives excellent value for money and drops passengers right in the centre of town.

So why is the service under-used? I think the main reason is that it takes time to change people's habits. I've spoken to a number of people who drive in past the park-and-ride terminal at Perdiswell.

Some of them thought it would take longer by bus (I haven't found this to be the case). Others don't use the service because they are used to driving to a particular car park and paying a certain amount of money - they drive in on auto-pilot. It takes thought and effort to stop what you normally do and do something different.

I also wonder if the city centre schools are doing enough to encourage parents to drop their children at Perdiswell rather than outside school.

Do parents know about the special Scholar's Season tickets that are available?

The headmaster of my son's school was very supportive of the system and agreed to inform parents in his next newsletter but, so far, nothing has materialised. Are other schools urging parents to help reduce traffic, congestion and pollution by supporting the park-and-ride?

Undoubtedly it cost a substantial amount of money to set up the park-and-ride scheme.

But this shows vision and commitment for which the city council should be supported. All of us who drive in down the Ombersley or Droitwich Roads should, at least sometimes, try leaving the car at Perdiswell - then the service might start to recoup some of its costs and the city might start to notice a difference.

SUE JOHNS,

Ombersley,

Worcester.