Four months and waiting

Published: 25 February 2010

• READERS may recall the article by John Gulliver about problems being experienced by Camden in issuing the new style Freedom Pass (January 28).
The response from Conservative councillor Martin Davies that applications had to be through the council and there were no problems is a little economical with the truth.
In actual fact, of the 30-plus London boroughs only three (Camden being one of them) require renewal through the council.
All others continue to use the Post Office. Why is it that Camden Council opted out of the previously existing and very effective Post Office system? Is it “cheaper and better” to have issuing done by the council?
What are the comparative costs between the council and the Post Office.
The Post Office state that passes will usually be received within 10 working days of application. After some four months of applying through Camden Council I am still waiting for my pass.
We heard much about the need to maintain our local post offices from the Tories and Liberal Democrats. Why then do they deny them revenue by taking away their responsibility and thus income, to issue Freedom Passes?  Perhaps Cllr Davies could supply some answers.
MICK FARRANT
Oak Village, NW5