Most of us are quick to criticise deficiencies in our public services, so perhaps we should sometimes acknowledge improvements.

Thanks to the Mayor of London, the frequency of several local bus services, including the 154 and 157, has been increased.

Less happily, the 157 has lost the services of drivers at our local garage, Sutton.

This seems a good time to thank them for coping with the traffic and other problems since the 1980s (and for a lot longer on the 154).

I travel a good deal and have found our local buses markedly more reliable than the trains, in the sense that they are rarely cancelled.

Of course they are sometimes late, especially at this time

of the year, but that is

usually a knock-on effect from traffic jams at various times

and places.

Connex, which has taken over the 157 from London General, has to overcome its poor reputation as a train operator, although we should not tar all the company's activities with the same brush and it should be given a chance to prove itself on the road.

Use of London's buses is steadily increasing, but they could still be made a more attractive alternative to the car on our congested roads.

A greater sense of urgency from the highway authorities would help here.

We need measures such as more bus lanes, bus-activated traffic lights, and more attention to places where parking obstructs buses or people getting on and off them.

BJ GOODCHILD

Hinton Road

Wallington

December 12, 2001 17:00