I hope you will allow me to reply to what I believe is one of the more ill-informed attacks on a local politician that I have seen for some time (Oxford Mail, April 14).

I refer to that on my friend, Jerry Patterson, leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council.

The Labour Government's imposed bus pass scheme starts at 9.30am. If you doubt the parenthood of the scheme, just look at the pass.

Every one has a small Labour rose on it.

Anywhere where a scheme starts before 9.30am, it is being directly funded by local taxpayers, not the Government.

The bus pass distributed by the Vale conforms exactly to the new Labour Government's scheme.

The fact is that it is hopelessly underfunded, especially in areas such as the Vale where bus services are excellent, and there is a large popuation of those over 60.

It is worth pointing out that not a penny of Vale money has been used to dig up the roads of Abingdon.

It is the county council (currently Tory controlled) that does that.

The Vale has contributed to Abits, the Abingdon traffic scheme, but only to enhance the street furniture to a higher standard than that which would be funded by the county.

Finally, it was Abingdon Town Council that resurfaced the square, and it did so because the previous surface was worn out and life expired.

As an aside, I doubt that many 14-year-olds manage gross budgets of £50m-plus, and the Audit Commission believes that we give good value for money on the ninth lowest council tax among English districts.

There are many who feel that Vince Cable, who was so right about Northern Rock, would be better as Chancellor than the present incumbent.

BOB JOHNSTON (Councillor) Liberal Democrat executive member Vale of White Horse District Council