I AM afraid that, yet again, Mr Amos (The Bolton News, September 30) fails to understand the current role and powers of the GMPTA over private bus companies.

He has chosen to ignore the basic fact - we have no powers to force bus companies to do anything with their commercial services. If this is incorrect, then all the PTAs in Britain must have been misunderstanding the law for more than 20 years!

Mr Amos also says that I and the GMPTA have not offered a real solution, only a desire and a hope.

But sometimes desires and hopes actually turn into reality.

Therefore, Mr Amos will surely join me congratulating the government for finally listening to the GMPTA and the bus users. The Transport Secretary, Douglas Alexander, announced at the Labour Conference the Government's commitment to give PTAs "real powers" over local bus networks.

Mr Alexander will soon be bringing proposals forward that will lead to a new statutory framework, to enable us to work with the private sector to bring about better bus services.

This is what we have been campaigning for. We will wait to see exactly what the government is proposing, but any form of new regulation powers for the GMPTA must only lead to improved services, and must surely be welcomed by all.

Cllr Nick Peel, Bolton Spokesman, GMPTA