'Below thE belt' bus fan
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LABOUR councils which I pose to charge low fares really charging "below the b fares, Transport Secretary a Howell told last week's Con vative Party conferenci Blackpool.
"They are below the belt o. elderly ratepayer, shopowner, the business' struggling against all the burdens he faces, the wc and city life itself," he said.
In London, the average payer's contribution toward; transport system had risen times from its level at the bE ring of the year of 13p a wee Next year, the figure could to £2.60 a week, and over ar month period the cost c have risen 20 times. Mr He attacked the cheap fares pi as "a recipe for financial ruil public transport."
He added: "It will leave i wake bankrupt businesses burdened ratepayers. Our forward costs the ratem nothing."
Mr Howell warned that rates increases could mear loss of about 55,000 jobs ir capital. Shops could be fa out of business, and life cou drained away from the ce city area.