Is this the way?
Page 22
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ANOTHER hint that the Government likes the route tendering system in the Hereford and Worcester trial area came last week. Transport Secretary Nicholas Ridley singled out the arrangement when he spoke at last week's ACC conference.
He said there had been a surprising amount of competition for those tenders. In the second round of tenders which had taken place recently the competition was even stronger.
"The result of the process has been to save the county £60,000 out of the total revenue support in the trial area of £160,000 with a saving of £65,000 from the cost of providing season tickets for school children.
"Notwithstanding these huge savings, the bus service has remained substantially intact and fares have been kept down in the trial area in relation to fares elsewhere in the county."
He said that he sensed in the number and variety of new ideas coming forward "that the time is right for change". The time was ripe for a review of the regulatory system and the opportunities for introducing private capital into the operations of publicly-owned bus undertakings.
He invited County Council views to be submitted to the study now in hand within the Department of Transport on the issue (CM, February 25).
What do you think? Send your views to the editor at Room 304, Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS.