'Empire of empty buses'
Page 31
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NBC has run an empire of empty buses on subsidy for too many years. At last county councils are asking what exactly are they buying with this money.
In Oxfordshire's case the incredible waste of public money is now highlighted. It appears that if no subsidy is paid 75 passengers will lose their public transport. These 75 passengers are costing £330,000 per year or £20 per day per person to transport.
In Oxford City the Park and Ride Service is now costing 45p per car subsidy. The licence should never have been granted for this costly operation. It is my contention that had the city council asked for tenders to operate the service and a private operator been awarded the contract, then the senseless running of this duplicate to the town service would have been stopped in Traffic Court by the same company that now operates and then increased fares due to insufficient revenue from their existing services.
The Commissioners have created the situation whereby if the travelling public are unwilling to use BR or NBC their only alternative is the car. Independent operators do not stand a cat in hell's chance of obtaining licences. The court is held at a time and place which ensures that the most relevant people (intending passengers) are at work or in their village.
The bus could be brought back to life by holding Traffic Court hearings when and where the passengers are.
All councils should take an intelligent look at what they are buying with their handouts.
NBC and BR must now accept the tax and ratepayers are not prepared to carry them when they should be carrying us at a price the travelling public can afford and where they cannot do this, get out.
R. E. WORTH, Worth Motor Services Ltd, Oxford.