First Bus told to make an apology
COUNCILLORS have demanded a public apology from First Bus for failing its passengers.
First Manchester has been at the centre of a storm in recent weeks over its axing of services.
These include the 88 from Manchester, Monsall and Charlestown and the 468 Tottington - Bury route. Although First are not the only operator to have axed services, they were singled out at a public meeting when Coun Noel Bayley - a member of the Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) committee which deals with buses - called for a vote.
The motion, which was carried forward, gives First six months to deliver a formal apology to passengers and explain how they will make ‘significant and demonstrable improvements’ in its performance and reliability, which were described as ‘inadequate.’
At the meeting, Coun Noel Bayley, member for St Mary’s in Bury, criticised First’s lack of investment and provision, shortage of drivers and its social media app.
Referring to council subsidies which First receive for fuel, concessions and unprofitable routes, he added: “They [First] want to take millions of pounds from the public purse but not any of the responsibility. They have let the people of Bury down and in my opinion your company is not fit for purpose.”
After the meeting he said First were failing to invest sufficient amounts to maintain the service passengers deserved, adding: “I wasn’t elected - and neither were any of the councillors - to deal with complaints about First. First is a big firm - there’s no excuse for them cutting services they way they have done.” Coun Phil Burke, member for West Middleton, added: “The people of Rochdale and Greater Manchester are fed up of First buses either running late, cutting routes and failing to pick up. We ask that they treat people with respect. People need to get around.” At the meeting, David Alexander, Divisional Director at First, said there was a driver shortage of ‘25 out of 1,600 drivers,’ adding: “We do need to put our house in order. “Senior management from First Bus and First Manchester attended the meeting and answered questions from Members. “As previously advised, we have decided to withdraw some of our less well used services from April 8 to allow us to allocate more resources to our remaining routes and significantly improve reliability for our customers”.