In reply to Chris Boswell's letter, Let's have free park-and-ride (Oxford Mail, October 6), the county council press release was clear about what was going to be free from October 1.

As for making the park-and-ride bus journey free, I am afraid Mr Boswell should know there is no such thing as a free bus ride — any more than a free lunch.

Someone has to pay for the bus, the driver and the fuel.

The council is delighted to be able to scrap the parking charges at the three park-and-rides previously managed by the city council.

However, the cost of subsidising the park-and-ride buses into the city would be very heavy and we are determined to hold down our council tax increase as much as we can in the face of a very poor Government financial settlement this year.

I know many people welcome not having to put their hands in their pocket twice at Redbridge, Seacourt and Pear Tree park-and-rides, as they have not had to do since 2005 when we scrapped parking charges at our own Thornhill and Water Eaton sites.

Keith Mitchell, Leader, Oxfordshire County Council