As was expected, the pass isn't valid on bus services before 9.30am, including any such journeys in connection with hospital appointments.
People living in some rural parishes will now not be able to make hospital appointments before 9.45am in the case of Selby War Memorial Hospital and 11.30am at York, and not after 3pm if you wish to catch the last bus home from Selby.

The accompanying leaflet advises the reader there are terms and conditions, but these aren't included. An e-mail or letter to Selby District Council is necessary to obtain these.

The leaflet goes on to explain how to plan your journey by using the North Yorkshire County Council website. Sadly, the web address is incorrect, and when you eventually do get through, you're expected to know the route number of all the services you may wish to use.

There's also mention of pass users obtaining free timetables from NYCC, but not until later this year.

Sadly, there's no good reason to cease using the car to achieve quick and reliable journeys. Let's not forget we now have to pay full fare on all rail journeys from Selby – our colleagues in West Yorkshire get their off-peak journeys for 35p.

We're repeatedly told Selby is an up-and-coming place, of which we can be proud. I think this latest fiasco by SDC is pushing the area back in time, not forward.

But hey, let's look on the bright side. We will be able to go visit the newly paved area of Market Cross for free, just like our ancestors did. But they did it by horse and cart.

David Rhodes
The Shrubberies, Cliffe