ON the subject of tourists visiting our town using bus passes (Councillor complains over use of free bus passes by tourists - Echo March 5), Do critics stop to think about the revenue these visitors bring to the area out of season?

Also there are many people in the area who use their passes to get to Poole hospital for treatment. Also without the bus pass many elderly would not be able to leave their homes to shop. If they bothered to talk to the elderly on basic pension they would find the bus pass has given them a new lease of life and freedom to go to places they haven’t been to in a long time.

For many, the benefits far outweighed the cost of the pass. Independence is something to be valued not scorned as an expense.

MRS COOPER, Haviland Mews , Bournemouth