REGARDING Ray Pilkington of Pilkington's Buses apparently 'blasting' the proposed bus operator's charter as 'gobbledygook' (LET, July 22) as your article correctly reports, this is one of the number of initiatives currently being progressed throughout Lancashire to dramatically improve public transport, especially bus services.

These are being welcomed by a great many people and include the recent introduction of the first 'Quality Bus' service in East Lancashire, in Hyndburn.

The charter is to be a public statement of commitment to improve bus services and has been drawn up jointly by the county council and representatives of the bus operators. It is to be followed by a formal document which will set out agreed performance standards and commitments from all partners in the scheme.

I am surprised that Ray Pilkington does not want to sign up to the charter. Surely, it is in everyone's interest to tell both existing and prospective passengers that we are all working together to raise the standard and quality of service.

Perhaps, given that most of Lancashire's bus operators have given a very positive response to the scheme, he concerned that he could be signing up to a set of quality standards which he might not be able to deliver?

COUNTY COUNCILLOR GEORGE SLYNN, Chairman, Planning, Industrial and Tourism Committee, Lancashire County Council.