Franchising buses will not give us best service Airport must do better
VIEWPOINTS Write to: Viewpoints, M.E.N, Mitchell Henry House, Hollinwood Avenue, Oldham, OL9 8EF Or email: viewpoints@men-news.co.uk
I WRITE to you as Chief Executive of OneBus – representing the key bus operators providing commercial services throughout Greater Manchester – regarding the M.E.N.’s recent interview with Jeremy Corbyn.
While Mr Corbyn wants to see “decent bus services in Greater Manchester,” we believe Manchester deserves nothing short of the best. Quite simply, the best can’t be achieved through a franchise model.
Mr Corbyn’s rose-tinted view of Transport for London’s model and his penchant for franchising are naïve and worrying in equal measure.
In spring this year, TfL forecast a deficit of almost £1bn, up from £458m in 2016/17. Revenues from bus fares are down £21m and there have been 15 million fewer bus trips.
Whilst many point to passenger growth in previous years, this has only been possible with interventions including extra bus lanes and the congestion charge.
Mayor Sadiq Khan’s flagship pledge to freeze fares has drained £640m from revenues and this – combined with the loss of £700m in subsidy this year under government cutbacks – has had a direct impact on services. Greater Manchester has not been immune to cuts as the Campaign for Better Transport ‘Buses In Crisis’ report says that there was a 7% reduction in the local authority spend on buses between 2016/17 and 2017/18.
Instead of franchising, OneBus is calling for a partnership between bus providers, the Mayor, local authorities and businesses to deliver a sustainable, top quality service.
Our partnership would achieve one network with bus reliability measures and a simple fares and ticketing system, which puts customers first and offers good value for both passengers and public investment.
Only this approach can deliver the step-change in service provision needed to benefit communities right across the region. Gary Nolan Chief Executive, OneBus MANCHESTER Airport prides itself on being a leading UK Hub Airport. Pity it can;t claim the same when it comes to support for passengers with mobility problems!
My wife, who has had a major spinal operation plus a hip replacement, had to struggle up the aircraft steps on our outward journey to Zante (September 2 this year) because the company, OS, who provide wheelchairs and staff, could not provide a lift service for at least an hour.
We returned to Manchester on September 9 and after waiting for the other passengers to disembark, we, along with another couple, were left for three quarters of an hour before two operatives arrived with wheelchairs to take us off.
The Thomas Cook air staff were very apologetic and the Senior Steward, who said that she had witnessed my wife’s struggles up the plane steps on our outward journey, said she would put in another of several other earlier complaints to the relevant services.
Get your act together Manchester! Peter Clayfield, Clayton
Great NHS treatment
I ATTENDED the surgery of my GP on a number of occasions suffering from a water infection.
The infection appeared to have cleared up but I had other problems and so last Tuesday I again visited my GP who referred me to Salford Royal Hospital.
I attended A&E and received the preliminary treatment with care and consideration.
I then received first-class treatment from an Advanced Nurse Practitioner. I
think her name was Julie. She gave me a thorough examination, explained each step and told me what she considered to be the problem.
I left the hospital feeling much better in mind and body. I cannot thank Julie enough. The NHS receives many unwarranted complaints. My experience and treatment were first-class. Denis A Jones, Swinton
Not more bad architecture
WITH the city skyline constantly spiked by cranes putting up more and more glass boxes, I was excited to see one redevelopment that has been discussed for years.
Meeting someone at Piccadilly, I saw scaffolding being put up around the old fire station complex.
If this really is the start of its being brought back into use, hooray!
I don’t know how many excuses, promises, and false starts this has suffered, but it seems to have been one of those topics which keeps on coming up.
I just wish interesting and dignified buildings like this were being treasured and prioritised over the flimsy, limited shelf-life Lego towers we see constantly approved by the supine council without appropriate harmony, social inclusivity or Section 106 payments. They are dominating what used to feel like our city but who will care about them in a century? J Spass
Use a local sculptor
THIS is NOT a complaint or mischief making, purely a personal opinion regarding the soon to be unveiled statue of Emmeline Pankhurst, a lady who helped the women’s movement so much.
Reading your article about the above I was disappointed in one fact that seemed a little odd.
How could this statue of a Manchester lady who influenced history and held so many of her rallies in Manchester have her statue created and made by an artist who I believe has no connection with this city or in fact this region.
I must add I have no issue either with the statue or the artist just the principle. Is there really no sculptor from this region capable of producing a statue of equal quality? AP