Having supported the protest in Drayton at 7am on December 1 against the introduction of exorbitant charges (£240.00 per year) for children using the bus to get to John Mason School in Abingdon, it was upsetting to see someone from Oxfordshire County Council talking on television in such a dismissive manner about the whole issue.

The council is drawing a line across the middle of our village and saying those on one side must pay the new charges, while those on the other still qualify for free transport. This action is unjust and divisive.

He talked of families ‘getting away with it for years’. What about the other side of the argument – that this was always accepted custom and practice for at least 30 years?

Their argument hinges on the existence of a ‘safe walking route’, albeit accompanied by an adult, between Drayton and Abingdon. What parents would expose their children to such risks on a long walk?

It is claimed there have been no serious accidents on that stretch of road, but we know of at least three fatalities in the past 20 years. The pavement is very narrow on one place and has to be shared with cyclists.

And for those children who do end up walking, the school bus will go sailing past them with lots of empty seats!

Perhaps a fairer solution to this issue would be for buses to be laid on for all children in rural areas and everyone pay the same nominal fare regardless of distance.

DOREEN BOURNE Steventon Road Drayton Abingdon