Mike Taylor claims (Oxford Mail, October 13) that Oxford Bus Company has done nothing to reduce pollution in central Oxford.

He could not be further from the truth.

For the last 12 years, we have fitted our vehicles with the latest emission control devices, resulting in a dramatic improvement.

Over the last five years, we have reduced: 1. Carbon monoxide emissions from our buses to a tenth of their previous level (from 23.1 tonnes per year to just 2.15).

2. Hydrocarbons to a sixth of the previous level (from 7.2 tonnes to 1.06) 3. Particulates by three quarters (from 1.04 tonnes to 0.24) 4. Nitrogen oxide by three per cent (from 132 tonnes to 127.8).

We are not, however, the only user of the central area and so there are others who could follow our example for the benefit of everyone, hence the proposed low emission zone.

Mr Taylor suggests that by changing the services to the park-and-ride sites, buses could be removed from two streets.

This ignores an important issue - people.

Our services reflect where passengers want to go.

The demands on the four park-and-ride sites are not equal and therefore, re-linking would result in more buses on one leg of the "new" service than the other, which would require buses to turn around in the central area.

We are as concerned about the environment as Mr Taylor, and we will continue with our strenuous efforts to make Oxford's air as clean as possible, irrespective of whether he thinks we are bleating' or not.

PHILIP KIRK Managing Director Oxford Bus Company