Although the legislation about 16 years plus children in education paying for their transport to school/college came from Central Government, do we bow down once more to Cumbria County Council selecting the 106 bus route to be a scapegoat for their cost cutting?

For them to put a price of £1,425 for students travelling from Shap to Ullswater College (supposedly, they say, because of increased numbers of students travelling, a double decker bus will be needed) against a price of £170 for the journey from Patterdale to Penrith seems unfair and ridiculous.

Discrimination of this kind should not be allowed! The council stopped subsidies on various routes throughout the county in 2014 - Cumbria being the second-worst hit in the country.

The 106 bus route between Penrith and Kendal was one of the routes withdrawn. We now have an inadequate one bus on three days bus service.

We must not allow this state of affairs to continue. Get in touch with your Member of Parliament, your county councillor, Eden district councillor, parish council and object strongly to these decisions.

Even if the bus cuts and costs to the over 16s does not affect you personally, choose to be heard and become involved. Form groups and committees to fight for your rights and the rights of your children. The more voices heard, the better the chance of changing the system.

Rural communities deserve to be on a level playing field with their urban cousins.

Mavis Walsh

Shap