I AM sorry to hear about the recent confusion caused by the recent bus stop changes around Colchester town centre as referenced by Ann Booty.
She wrongly referenced Colchester Council which has absolutely no legal responsibility for bus services and also Essex County Council.
Let me be clear - the changes to the bus services and the bus stops were driven and requested by the commercial bus companies.
They requested and planned these changes as they wished to improve the flow of buses around the town centre and stop "bunching" of buses especially in the High Street.
Essex County Council did not request these changes.
Essex County Council does have some legal responsibility for having to agree the changes purely due to the Transport Act which was in fact inflicted on us all by Mrs Thatcher where she thought it was a good idea to stop councils running bus services.
READ MORE: 'Welcome to idiot town!' Bus overhaul is causing big headaches for passengers
Some 30 years on since this law was passed along with the botched privatisation of our railways, you do have to question the decisions made during her tenure and the price we all have to pay today which is part of her legacy.
Martin Goss
Borough councillor for waste, transport and sustainability
Colchester Council
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