REFER to, and support, Mr J Norbury's letter regarding the possible removal of the No16 bus service from the Sale West area to and from Manchester.

This will result in the only direct link between Manchester and this area of Sale being lost.

Access to Manchester, particularly to Manchester Royal Infirmary and eye hospital, at present taking about 40 minutes and payment of a single fare on the No 16, will, in future require three separate journeys. That is a 19 bus to Sale station, Metrolink to St Peter's Square, a walk across busy streets to near Oxford Road Station (not the easiest walk for elderly people) and another bus back to the hospital, meaning three separate fares and considerably longer journey time.

Patients at the eye hospital are advised that they should not drive after out-patient treatment, so rely on public transport.

Having to change modes of transport is not conducive to speedy recovery from treatment.

On Saturdays, patients and others already have to start the journey on a No 19 bus to Sale where the 16 bus terminates at Hayfield Street; again double fares and a longer journey time.

It is my impression that our area representatives in council do not really understand the transport problems in Sale West, living as they do outside this area.

Even accessing Trafford General Hospital involves at least two bus journeys, one of which is made by the 16 bus, with a change in Stretford.

Loss of the 16 bus route will isolate our area still further and I would ask Arriva for reconsideration of this proposal and for others to support this issue.

E Harden