All change at Southdown
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• Transit Holdings boss Harry Blundred plans to convert the Southdown Portsmouth fleet to minibuses after he takes over the division from Stagecoach on 20 January.
The deal includes 113 vehicles, 350 staff, initially three depots and 30 routes, including all Southdown Portsmouth bus services between Portsmouth, Waterlooville and Petersfield; routes on Portsea Island and to Paulsgove and Porchester; Portsmouth-Fareharn, and Havant-Fareham. Stagecoach will hold on to all other services in Ilavant, including those to Portsmouth and Waterlooville, as part of its Chichesterbased Southdown West Sussex division.
Stagecoach merged Southdown and Portsmouth Citybus in October 1989, which attracted interest from The Monopolies and Mergers Commission. In July it was announced that in the best interests of the public part of Portsmouth Citybus should be sold (CM 19-25 July 1990).
Exeter-based Transit Holdings plans to replace a "significant amount" of the fleet with minibuses by the end of the year. The Southdown Portsmouth fleet comprises 45 double-deckers, 26 singledeckers, 33 minibuses and nine coaches.
In the short-term it will operate the fleet under the Portsmouth Transit banner with no changes to the workforce, which includes 230 drivers and 120 other staff. But in due course it plans to "streamline" the operation.
Portsmouth Transit's Eastney site, which is on lease from the council, will he vacated in May; the head office will be moved to Hilsea.
"We believe that the frequency and quality of bus services presently offered to passengers in Portsmouth needs to be greatly improved," says Blundred. "We plan a thorough review of all services and aim to provide long-term stability and thus return confidence to the public in bus transport as we develop and expand Portsmouth."
His Docklands minibus service closed down last November after nearly two years, making 90 drivers and 60 minibuses redundant.