I WRITE in reply to the letter headed "Am I the lone voice of protest?" (Jan 21) from Mr David Foss which referred to a meeting of Bury Local Transport Group (LTG) on Jan 12, when the level of public transport provision in Greater Manchester over Christmas and the New Year was discussed.

As he correctly notes, Mr Foss submitted a three-part motion to the meeting which was subsequently withdrawn due to lack of support. The motion's failure to gain support was due to the fact that it requested action outside the locus of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and Executive (GMPTA/E).

Specifically, Mr Foss called for "the public to be given an assurance that, in future, arrangements will be made for the citizens of Greater Manchester to be provided with adequate public transport during public festival periods". As was explained at the meeting, GMPTA/E do not directly provide public transport services, as this is the function of private operators. However, I can assure readers that GMPTA is, within the resources available to it, fully committed to trying to obtain the best possible level of public transport at all times, through discussions with public transport operators, and that this was also the case for the recent festive season.

Within this overall discussion, it should be noted that for the sixth consecutive year GMPTA maintained its commitment to ensure transport provision for those with friends and family in hospital over the Christmas and New Year period by subsidising a free door-to-door minibus services on Dec 25, 26 and 31 and Jan 1.

Furthermore, GMPTE undertook a comprehensive publicity programme to ensure that people were aware of public transport provision across the country. This included taking out advertisements in the local press and on local radio, as well as the publication of "Quick Guides" and district brochures which summarised bus, train and Metrolink services from Dec 24 to Jan 3. The GMPTE information line (0161 228 7811) was also open for all but three days, and a similar service can be accessed through GMPTE's website (WWW.gmpte.gov.uk).

COUNCILLOR WINSTON RAMSEY,

GMPTA member,

chairman (Bury Local

Transport Group).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.