In response to Audrey Buttimer (Letters, January 13), we would like to make it clear Brighton and Hove City Council is not responsible for the decision of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company to cease the arrangement whereby holders of CountyCards have been able to use their concessionary bus passes before 9am on weekdays for half-price travel.

The council is a member of the CountyCard scheme to which most councils in

Sussex belong. The scheme is more generous than the Government's statutory

minimum requirements.

For example, it allows travel after 9am on weekdays, compared to the Government's requirement of 9.30am.

For some years, the bus company has allowed CountyCard holders to use their bus passes at any time and has absorbed the cost. This was initially instigated as a gesture of goodwill but, with the extension of eligibility to men aged 60 to 64 years, with effect from April 2003, the company has had to review this concession and, in the light of economic considerations, reluctantly been forced to withdraw travel concessions before 9am weekdays.

-Valerie Pearce, Assistant Director of Customer Services, Brighton and Hove City Council, Roger French, Managing Director, Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company