Whose benefit?

11:51am Monday 4th February 2008

I write with regard to your story concerning the financial shortfall in council spending caused by spiralling costs of OAPs' free bus travel (The Argus, January 31).

As a result, hard-pressed ratepayers will have to stump up increasing amounts.

If the shortfall needed to be covered was bad, then in the words of 20th century performer Al Jolson: "You ain't heard nothing yet!"

When free OAP travel goes national, costs will increase to an unsustainable level.

Is it really necessary to fund shopping trips to the seaside or to that picturesque village for a cream tea? It's nice but someone has to pay for it.

While no one would begrudge free travel for the housebound to the supermarket, many of the trips are unnecessary and frivolous.

Not all the OAPs that take advantage are poor but many of the working people that have to fund it are.

The Government has created another sacred cow that will be a bottomless pit for ratepayers.

Strange. The Government complains about the benefit culture but has created yet another benefit to feed that culture.

• P Grant, King's Road Brighton

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