I have been reading with great interest the comments made about the new bus passes.

My husband and I received ours on April 2, only one day late, so don't think Southend Council have given us cause to complain.

Of course, it may be because our surname is fairly near the beginning of the alphabet we received them quicker.

However, I am wondering how I am going to be able to use it to its full potential.

I see the later start time means a lot of people are likely to miss hospital appointments.

Where I live, there is not a bus service that actually goes to the hospital.

I would have to get a bus to Southend Civic Centre, walk to Victoria rail station, cross the road, then get on a bus to take me to the hospital.

As I am disabled this is an impossible situation which means I have to get a taxi to and from the hospital which costs roughly £11 return each time.

Also to travel anywhere else would mean having to go into Southend before I could maybe pick up an appropriate bus.

The problem then is getting home again.

The only bus I can use id the number 9, as it is the only one that goes as far as Cuckoo Corner.

Needless to say, I do not get much use out of my pass and therefore think if the only moan people have is regarding a later start time of 30 minutes, they don't have much to complain about.

Maureen Chapman
Victoria Avenue
Southend

...I don't wish to appear ungrateful and I do appreciate having a free bus pass.

Can any Echo reader advise me of a bus route from Southend to London?

We can not use National Express, so presently have to use the train which of course has to be paid for. Also, if there is a bus route, will I get there the same day?

The key words in the pamphlet sent with the bus pass are "local buses", so really we are restricted to travel in Essex unless we can devise a bus route to anywhere in England which won't take a week to get to.

Mrs Ena Wilson
Hadleigh Road
Leigh