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MAY I have the opportunity of replying to the four letters printed in the Salisbury Journal on October 11 following your earlier invitation that people should contact you with any "bad experiences" they have suffered while using public transport.

Firstly, I would like to sincerely apologise to Alwyn Lovell from Bemerton Heath; the Pulseline bus due at 20.20 from The Valley to Salisbury city centre was unfortunately cancelled on September 22 and 29 owing to absence of staff through sickness.

I am, however, mystified by the allegation that the X4 bus at 14.52 from Bradford on Avon to Salisbury did not run on September 20.

The electronic ticket machines carried on the buses record the times and places where passengers are picked up; on that date the bus left Bath on time at 14.20 with 13 passengers and picked up one passenger at Bradford on Avon at 14.54 (i.e. two minutes late).

There would appear to be no reason why the letter writer and her friends could not have caught this bus to Salisbury.

The records do also show that the following bus was indeed 20 minutes late owing to a road traffic accident, but the letter implies that this bus was driven by a gentleman; it had, in fact, a female driver.

In reply to Mr Hughes from Amesbury, the number 3 bus between Salisbury and Stonehenge was re-routed in May of this year; visitors to Stonehenge are the main users and the timetable has some seasonal variations to reflect this. The current route enables the bus to run more reliably by avoiding some notorious congestion black-spots.

I welcome the letter form councillor Dr Helena McKeown and in particular her assurances that Salisbury District Council is committed to bus priority and other measures to assist the smooth running of bus services.

Wilts and Dorset is run by keen and dedicated staff, who believe passionately in public transport and many of whom have long service in the bus industry.

It is our mission and our pride to offer a safe, reliable, comfortable and friendly bus service which offers all who travel good value for money.

If people feel that we are falling short, can I ask that they contact us so the circumstances can be fully investigated and that we can do everything in our power to put matters right.

Feedback is always welcome and can be sent using the facility on our website www.wdbus.co.uk and also by e-mail to enquiries-salisbury@wdbus.co.uk.

Alternatively write to the Customer Service Team, Wilts & Dorset, Bus Station, Endless Street, Salisbury SP1 1DW or telephone 01722 336855.

JIM BELL, Depot Manager, Wilts & Dorset Bus Company Ltd.

11:10am Thursday 1st November 2007

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