IN LATE April, Hough Lane was closed to traffic for work on the bridge for the guided busway, and our local bus service was re-routed.

My 82-year-old husband who has used a crutch for the last three years finds it impossible to walk up the hill to Sale Lane and the walk down to Stour Road leaves him in a great deal of pain. He also suffers from dementia, and has received absolutely superb support from staff of the Memory Service.

He attends three sessions each week. This includes dominoes, poetry and prose readings and his favourite – a singalong run by two members of All Singers Great and Small held at As in Eden. Whilst singing they also do actions to the words which gives them gentle exercise. All these activities are vital to such people.

On top of this the Ring and Ride now has a six-mile restriction on its service. So far we have spent almost £250 on taxis. Ah well, I thought, only three weeks to go before the bridge re-opens and we can catch the bus near our home again. However I have recently had a letter saying the bridge will remain closed until sometime in December.

My husband has an appointment at Wrightington on the 17th and the return taxi will be about £50. Fortunately we have friends who will ferry us around, otherwise our transport costs would be almost double what we have paid to date.

Does my husband miss his three dementia group meetings or do we face further costs of £250 until the end of the year?

Doris Critchley

Tyldesley