McGill’s CEO shares fears over bus franchising plan
THE chief operating officer of Greenock-based McGill’s Bus Group has taken to a high-profile national parliamentary platform to express his views on bus franchising.
Ralph Roberts has written a column in Holyrood magazine sharing his thoughts on the potential for the transport company to be taken away from owners Sandy and James Easdale if Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)’s plans come to fruition.
In March, SPT announced that work on franchising could start by using newly-activated
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powers in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.
Mr Roberts opined that bus franchising could collectively cost the Scottish taxpayer £400million.
He said: “Sandy and James Easdale now face the possibility of their company being snatched from them and the Scottish taxpayer being faced with an annual bill of £400m.
“It feels like something from the playbook of President Putin but instead of an evil dictator we find ourselves at the mercy of SPT.”
Mr Roberts says politicians are ‘falsely claiming’ the bus sector is broken, and reckons those claims led to the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 being established.
The company CEO says much of the debate around the bus sector is ‘disingenuous’.
He added: “It generally takes a small fact which is twisted to give a different meaning, such is the way of modern politics it would seem.
“The debate must be factual and honest and result in policy that is fair, just, and to the benefit of the people of Scotland.”
Mr Roberts fears bus services will be negatively impacted by franchising.
He added: “SPT say that their purpose in pursuing reform is to increase the provision of bus services, lower the cost of travel and gain control of the planning of them.
“If this is achieved competently, it will come at significant cost. “We estimate the current SPT wish list would cost the Scottish taxpayer £400m per annum in additional subsidy.
“Given the scale of the wish list, this is probably reasonable value for money.
“The transition to it should be achieved in a just fashion, and not suddenly confiscate businesses built in good faith under the law in this country.”
Mr Roberts says he has concerns about the bidding for business process if franchising plans are set in motion.
He added: “Winning such a franchise competition would be an outside chance for a business the size of McGill’s in the face of competition from large multi-national conglomerates.
“With over 90 per cent [of revenue] from commercial operation, it has no need for a bid team.
“With the current timescales and secrecy being adopted by SPT, it is in the dark about when and whether to invest the money to build an expensive bid team.
“We are left with no option but to fight the move in an expensive and wasteful use of resources which would normally be used for investment in bus services.
“A local hairdresser wouldn’t be forced out of business so why a bus company?”
The McGill’s CEO sent a strong message to Holyrood magazine readers about the next step in the process.
Mr Roberts said: “We cannot indulge in business theft or fantasy politics.
“Buses are a crucial part of people’s lives, they are not playthings in a game of dogma or control.
“If we are to change how we operate, fund and control our nation’s bus services, it must be done with advice weighted towards those who know how to achieve it. “Changing ownership or regulation is easy and alluring, but the accountability that goes with it will be unwelcome.”