REGARDING the news that the axed school bus services were to be reprieved until July is a very welcome development.

However, on reading the responses from the council leader and the managing director of Blackpool Transport Services, I was to say the least bewildered.

The original letter was dated 8th February and clearly stated, "The Borough has received notification that from Friday 13th April 2001 Blackpool Transport Services will be cancelling the following services which I believe affect your pupils."

It then goes on: "We understand that the reason given is due to the lack of profitability of these services. Pupils will of course be able to use any other service bus routes..."

George Bancroft in his response stated that this matter "got out of hand. There was never any danger to those services but the bus company discovered it is costing them money so they notified us."

Tony Depledge, managing director of BTS said: "It's unfortunate that there were reports that the services would be withdrawn before the issue had been fully resolved."

I am sure that all anxious parents would like to know why the Lund letter was sent out, which sounds pretty final to me and indeed, if the matter was not resolved, then why did it take until March 12 -- a full three days after the local press broke the story -- to be discussed? Further, why was it that so many councillors did not even know about the proposal?

Blackpool Transport is owned by the council and we have at least one leading councillor on the board. Was this decision taken at a board meeting and were there any councillors present? I rather suspect that the short term reprieve was more due to them being caught out and that the matter would never have seen the light of day but for the outcry from teachers, parents and pupils.

It is also clear that this extension ends in July and nobody has said the services will still be there after the summer holidays.

John Finlay,

Farringdon Avenue, Blackpool.