Chance for local operators
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• London Country Bus Services have given formal notice to seven local authorities that they intend to close down uneconomic country services unless the authorities are prepared to grant subsidies. The counties affected are: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Herts, Bucks, Essex and South Beds, and 83 services are involved.
A spokesman for LCB told CM that discussions are in progress with all the authorities at the moment and until they had been concluded no other statement would be forthcoming. Some of the local authorities are considering inviting small local operators to take over the services. It is understood that LCB would raise no objection to such a move; the company is reported as having said that smaller operators who did not have the overheads of a large company might very well be able to run the services economically.
The notice, which was served on December 1, expires on February 28. After that date LCB will be free to withdraw the services at their own convenience.