We won't rely on public transport

LETTER - We have lived in Newport now for 17 years and both my husband and I are drivers, never having to rely on public transport.

Our son has started an apprenticeship at Hortonwood and thinking that he might use the bus service bought himself a four-week pass at £45.

In order for him to get to and from work he catches the 481 to Aldi then the 55 - well he tries to.

So far on his second day the 481 from Telford to Stafford got to Aldi 15 minutes late and then sailed straight past, despite not being full and the female driver clearly seeing both my son and others wanting to get home.

This has happened again - same female driver but this time 20 minutes late. He has given up waiting for the number 55 bus in the mornings and now walks from Aldi to Hortonwood, beating the bus!

Thursday's however are a problem as he has to go to TCAT. He set off from Newport at 7.25am and got to TCAT at 9.05am having being passed five times by number 55 buses.

One hour and 40 minutes to travel approximately nine miles. He finally gave up and decided to share a taxi with others for the rest of his journey, arriving late. So far this week on top of his initial £45 he has spent £8 on taxi share with other equally fed-up bus passengers.

We have contacted Arriva who are "investigating" but we don't hold out much hope. It also doesn't get him to or from work either. We are already considering helping him buy a scooter, the alternative being learning to drive and us then becoming a three-car family.

It beggars belief that this Government wants us to leave the car behind.

Name and address supplied