You mentioned www. gmconsult.org and the consultation start date, but not that the consultation now lasts until 8 January, giving ample time for responses.

Your article quoted OneBus and Stagecoach views, but not those of Greater Manchester Council.

The private operators seemed to use your article to appeal to non-users of buses, claiming a partnership, with GMBus, not a franchise system, is more cost effective.

This ignores the huge sums already spent by ratepayers propping up failing private bus services, with declining services, the cherry picking of routes and chaotic and overpriced ticketing .

Unfortunately, the interests of profit have not always coincided with the public interest, whether bus users or not.

This is especially true, given the massive pollution and traffic congestion in Greater Manchester.

A cycle of rising prices and lower passenger numbers is a familiar pattern, from the enforced privatisation of the 1980s to the present.

For the first time in 40 years, we have a chance to reverse this .

I believe the bus companies' fears are regressive. Under a franchise system, it will be a win-win situation.

John Fitzpatrick

Hall Farm Avenue

Urmston