To improve buses, car use must be targeted
ANDREW Gwynne MP argues that he is ‘in no doubt’ that ‘deregulation’ of Greater Manchester’s bus system needs to end (Our shrinking bus network, M.E.N., February 14).
He will be happy to know that it has never started: our bus system and operators are – and have been for decades – regulated by the traffic commissioner, which holds us to account on punctuality, ensures we meet safety regulations, issues our licences, and so on.
I suspect what he is calling for is a ‘franchising’ model – which still requires regulation – and which would be funded by the taxpayer. Calls for more public investment will not come as a surprise to anyone who knows that public sector investment in buses has been falling dramatically – down 7 per cent in Greater Manchester between 2016-17 and 2017-18 alone – resulting in cuts to contracted, socially-needed services provided by the public sector in our region and elsewhere.
Operators are not immune to the whims of government and have also had to deal with significantly higher central government fuel tax on buses (unlike the air and rail travel industries). Conversely, fuel duty for motorists is being frozen for the ninth year in a row – hardly encouraging people to ditch their cars for public transport.
Independent research shows that worsening car use and associated congestion, along with a political failure to use current powers to address it, is the main issue undermining bus use. It makes journey times longer, pushes up costs and fares and discourages people from taking public transport.
At the same time, there has been a huge increase in Metrolink funding and expansion when the majority of public transport users who travel by bus need investment in bus priority. This is the reality of why bus use is falling, not the smokescreen of regulation.
We agree with Mr Gwynne that bus services can be better, but we disagree that at a time when councils are cutting services and looking to increase council tax, that the people of Greater Manchester should face an additional burden in their monthly bills. Manchester is not London, nor should it aspire to be – with the capital’s franchised bus network currently around £700m in the red every year – bus routes being cut and losing passengers faster than in other parts of the country.
Bus passengers deserve a better deal. That’s why OneBus has put together a £100m blueprint which would see all partners work together to deliver on our shared responsibility to get more people back on board the bus. Gary Nolan, chief executive, OneBus
Hopes for new bus routes
I REFER to the story regarding the sale of First Bus’s Queens Road garage to the Go-Ahead Group (First Bus selloff, M.E.N., February 21). The Go-Ahead Group operates in eight areas of the UK and also in Singapore and Ireland. It also operates train services. When it takes over the First Bus routes formally I sincerely hope that it will consider the following:
1. Keeping the fares as realistic as First did on the Rochdale Road corridor. 2. Investing in new buses. 3. Keeping them as clean as possible. 4. Punctuality. Its total for bus and rail revenue for 2018 was £3,461.5m, regional bus revenue (not London) £383.7m, so very impressive figures. Let’s see what it can bring to the table in service for north Manchester. Stephen Holt, via email
‘Fragrant’ memories
AMONGST the Ashton New Road smells was the one emanating from British Glues and Chemicals Bebbington in Clayton.
This was usually a large collection of trucks outside the premises with fresh offerings, hence the smell!
At the corner of Grattan Street there was a pub that closed in 1931, that was affectionately known as the ‘Fly House’ for obvious reasons. ‘Memories’, Beswick
Airline would have failed
ONCE again the scaremongering among Remainers rears its head, and includes the M.E.N. headline of February 18 blaming the collapse of Flybmi on Brexit (Flybmi blames Brexit).
Can I clarify that the airline has been on a downward spiral for the past 20 years and only has a fleet of 17 planes in service – not exactly an industry giant.
More of a worry is the potential closure of Honda in Swindon. JD, Droylsden
New cash stream
I’D like to report the latest finance initiative operated by Manchester council.
As the A56 is closed at the Victoria Station Bridge there is a diversion in place.
Unfortunately if you follow the diversion you are taken down the bus lane past Victoria Station and the Manchester Arena.
This leads to a bus lane fine of £30 or £60 if not paid within 14 days. What a fantastic way to boost the city finances. Neil McAuley, via email