Edinburgh bus sale idea abandoned
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BAILIE Brian Meek said last week that he had "in practical terms" abandoned his controversial proposal that Edinburgh City's transport undertaking be sold to the nationalised Scottish Bus Group.
The proposal led to a storm of protest earlier this year, (CM February 7).
Bailie Meek's proposal to negotiate with the Scottish Bus Group for the sale of the city's bus undertaking for an estimated £9m was aimed at preventing the accumulated deficit on the undertaking's operations falling on Edinburgh District Council.
Last week, however, Bailie Meek accepted that the opposition had effectively put paid to any hope of negotiating a sale before the local government hand-over date.
A Scottish Office spokesman said the Government was still considering representations that Edinburgh District Council should not have to take over the accumulated deficit in May, while Lothian Regional Council acquires the assets of the undertaking.
Dr Cecil Stout, Edinburgh city chamberlain and financial director of the district council, estimated that by May 16 the accumulated deficit would have been eliminated over two years by an extra penny on the fares.
However, under guidelines set by the Secretary of State for Scotland, any surplus or deficit on the Coropration's general rating account will pass to the new district council. The deficit would put 8p on the district rates next year, Dr Stout says, while the regional council picks up assets with a book value of £6.4m, which could be closer to E8m or f.:9m.
Free minibus
A FREE TEMPORARY minibus service has started in Redbridge. It will run from Woodford station v‘rhile the main 275 route is diverted for road works, A bridge is under construction that will be used exclusively by the 275 while construction work on MII takes place.
Vandal screen
AN ANTI-VANDAL screen for drivers of O-M-0 buses in Glasgow Is undergoing a two-month experiment by the Greater Glasgow PTE. The wire-mesh screen can be raised by the driver to protect him from attacks from vandals.