I WRITE in astonishment after reading the lead article ‘Bus cuts causing ‘a panic’’ (Standard, June 5).

It is my understanding that these services are Gloucestershire County Council subsidised and therefore why is Stagecoach again being allowed to cut services – or is the county council going along with this to save their money? What happened to the consultation that should have taken place with the district and town and parish councils?

We know that district councils often have little to say about bus services, but I would have expected the Cirencester Town Council to be up in arms about these cuts.We have been here before and it needs people power to win the day.

When the review of bus routes was surreptitiously being undertaken in 2011, over in my old parish of Charlton Kings we organised a public meeting within a week, which had the hall overflowing. Our route still exists with only a time change.

These buses are important especially for the elderly and infirm: it is the only link to the hospital and with visiting from 2-5pm, or if someone has a late clinic or needs treatment towards the end of the afternoon they will be stranded.

The car owners will just use their cars meaning more pollution and car parking problems, surely not the way we should be behaving considering the effects of global warning on our environment.

So come on Cirencester, let’s get it together and win the day.

REG BEAGLEY

Stratton

Cirencester