Fare showdown in South Yorks
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SOUTH YORKS County Council's policy of keeping fares down on public transport has increased bus ridership in the county by about two per cent, but has drawn the wrath of Transport Minister Dr John Gilbert. He has threatened to cut the amount of transport supplementary grant available to the county next year to curb its present overspending.
Dr Gilbert told the House of Commons last week that the deficit on bus services in the county was "increasingly astronomically," but a South York Passenger Transport Executive spokesman told CM that this was a matter of opinion, not fact.
The present county council budget for April 76/77 is committed to over El 5m in support of public. transport. Of this 66.9m goes to the PTE for keeping existing fares and services, £5.5m in concessions to old people, etc, and E3.1 m to other operators. notably the National Bus Company for the same purpose. Another £3.6m is held in reserve for inflation and other contingencies at present; Elm previously allocated to British Rail is now not to be paid.
Leaders of South Yorks County Council have publicly stated that they intend to stick to their low-fare policy and defy Westminster come what may.