Hands off the municipals
Page 37
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I really must comment on the article entitled "'Profile — Off the buses" (CM, November 19) with reference to the NBC and municipal transport " undertakings
I quote in particular — "These expansionist views extend to NBC taking over the operation of all municipal bus undertakings . . . then all would stand to benefit according to Mr Skyrme.
"Would all stand to benefit? Would the service be as good? I doubt it, and if the travelling public of Luton or Exeter were asked, would they agree that the services provided by the NBC subsidiaries were as good or as cheap as those provided by the former municipal undertakings -comparing like with like of course — before fares and costs started to rise astronomically over the last few years. Ask the public and the Council of Carlisle if they are satisfied with the services provided and fares charged by the local NBC sudsidiary.
Big is not necessarily beautiful — management is remote and therefore not able to be concerned with details at a very local level. Local management has to comply with company policy and NBC management is not answerable to the elected council members who are very much concerned that the local travelling public get the best deal for their money.
Government rate support is not for passenger transport purposes and the majority of municipal transport undertakings do not receive any local rate subsidy (other than payment for concessionary fare schemes) — note the number of deficits carried forward in annual accounts.
As for revenue support from the county council under the TPPs — the NBC subsidiaries ensure that they get the highest proportion of this by threatening to withdraw services — rightly so in view of the financial remit for NBC.
I am sure that the reverse of what Mr Skyrme advocates would be most beneficial to the travelling public. No matter how public transport is organised in the future let the management be responsible to the local elected members — local public transport is a local matter With all its faults that system is preferable to control from London by a nationalised body which is far removed ,from the grass roots.
P. A. ELLIS General Manager Borough of Carlisle Transport Department.