Cheap fare cancer?
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TRANSPORT SECRETARY Norman Fowler delivered a swingeing attack on South Yorkshire's cheap fares policy when he addressed Conservatives in the West Midlands last weekend.
He criticised Labour Party plans to spread fares 'subsidies to other areas — notably West Yorkshire and London where 25 per cent cuts are being promised for next week's local elections — saying they will result in massive rates increases and more closures of industry.
"Labour's plans are based on what happened in South Yorkshire," he said, and pointed out that revenue support there has risen from 1975/76's £8m to £46m in the current financial year.
"The passenger now pays only a quarter of the costs, but each year the ratepayer picks up a bigger and bigger bill. Both domestic and industrial rates have gone up and up, and even with this support, the increase in passengers has been only marginal."
Mr Fowler told his audience that voters in metropolitan areas should beware of following similar policies, as industrialists could be forced out of the area. Surprisingly, perhaps, he did not blame the recent job losses at Hadfields' steelworks in Sheffield on the South Yprkshire fares policy.
However, he did say: if anyone believes this is exaggerated,. he should consider this. The last Labour Government resolutely opposed the kind of policy that is now being advocated." And, referring to former Labour Transport Secretary Bill Rodgers, now a leading Social Democrat, Mr Fowler said: "To mark their total disagreement, the last Labour Government actually cut off transport grant to South Yorkshire.
"The policy didn't make sense then. It makes even less sense today when the priority is the recovery of industry. Both the domestic and the industrial ratepayer have a clear interest in seeing. Labour's policy defeated.