Kate Davies makes a number of important points about free bus travel for the over 60s (Letters, November 8). She is right that those of us on the coast between Eastbourne and Brighton - of all ages - have an excellent east to west service, route 12.

It will become an even more attractive alternative to the car when the Newhaven to Brighton sustainable transport corridor is completed, although inevitably there may be some short-term disruption during the construction period.

She's also right that older people should be encouraged to claim appropriate benefits, whether that's council tax benefit, pension credit, the free bus pass or any other entitlement.

She is right too about the lack of bus services in more rural areas.

But in my view she has missed the point about the funding of the free bus pass scheme. Local councils are not saying it's misguided or that older people are not wanted on the buses. The issue is that the Government decided to introduce the scheme without ensuring that the necessary funding was made available to every locality to pay for it.

Nobody wants other essential services to be cut back, or council tax to rise even further, to pay for this. The stark reality is that the Government has willed the ends without willing adequate means and that is simply dishonest.

  • David Rogers, Liberal Democrat councillor for Newhaven and Ouse Valley West East Sussex County Council