IBC 'guideline-breaking ores rise to go ahead
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TIONAL Bus subsidiary -thern General Transport I its seven per cent fares rease application granted week, despite a claim by th MP John Rymer that T was breaking the rernment's pay and price cy.
he increase, intended to ly for a year, is an attempt )1-event last year's £357,000 icit from rising to an es timated £853,000.
Mr Rymer claimed that the application broke the Government's guidelines, that the new fares scales would place an intolerable burden on Blyth's ratepayers, and that they would have a harmful effect upon the community.
NGT's QC Peter Fingret told the Northern Traffic Commissioners that the increase did not breach the guidelines, and added that the company had begun a cost-saving programme.
Traffic manager John Berkshire said one-man operation had been increased from 55 per cent last year to 62 per cent, and added that this was the first time that an NGT fares increase application was set below the rate of inflation.
The new fares scale takes effect on January I.