Just how long before our local Conservative councillors on Wiltshire Council hit back at their masters in government and tell them it’s time they looked elsewhere to make their cruel cuts that are affecting thousands of Wiltshire residents?

We are now facing massive cuts to our bus network across the county. Thousands of residents who rely on buses will be left without any form of public transport.

The problem is that most of the Conservative councillors making these cuts never use public transport and in many cases never will, so they don’t know the effect these cruel cuts will have on the local community as they drive their cars to and from County Hall.

At a recent public transport task group, I asked for a show of hands from members asking who used public transport. It was no surprise that no hands went up. How can these members make decisions that affect so many people when they know so little about our local bus network?

I’m fed up with being told that buses can be replaced with local community buses, Link and volunteer drivers. Just where are all of these volunteer drivers coming from to drive a bus 12 hours a day linking our local villages with vital services in nearby towns?

And forgive me in pointing it out to our local Conservative councillors but it was only a few months ago that they axed much of the funding for the Link service.

Coun Terry Chivers, Independent Melksham Without North.