Time for reality check

Stewart Stevenson, the transport minister of the SNP minority administration, tells us to get out of our cars and take the bus or train, which is fine if you are lucky enough to live close to a bus route with a half decent service.

The reality for many is that there is no practical alternative to using the car – either their own or relying on friends and family – for shopping and essential journeys, as no buses are available. I would challenge Stewart Stevenson to speak to people living in rural areas to reconnect him with reality.

Whilst in opposition, Mr Stevenson was very critical of the lack of effective transport strategy provided by the then Labour/Liberal Democrat administration, but after the first year of the SNP, nothing has changed, apart from the approval of a very costly ornamental tram system for Edinburgh, bringing complete chaos to a city that had more than enough traffic-congestion problems to cope with.

DENNIS GRATTAN

Mugiemoss Road

Bucksburn, Aberdeen