Webster End bus chaos
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• The PSV section of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has called for a period of stability in the field of government regulation, and it wants the Government to mount a survey on the effects of its deregulation policies.
The section's chairman, Trevor Webster of bus builders Metro-Camtnell Weyman, warns that unless the market can return to normality and large numbers of heavy duty buses are replaced, "the manufacturing infrastructure could fall apart."
Webster says, "We need a period of policy stability, to let the changes work through." At the moment, he claims, there is so much confusion in the marketplace as a result of deregulation that "the manufacturers are quite unable to generate forecasts."
Webster points out that with the current rate of heavy-duty bus sales, the national fleet of some 32,000 vehicles which were on the road just prior to deregulation would take up to 160 years to replace. He points out that the very low sales of heavy-duty buses — estimated at around 400 vehicles for this year — includes imports of 14% on bus chassis.
While that is not as high as the current 50% imports in the coach chassis market, it does reduce home manufacturers' sales even further.
SMMT director Antony Fraser says that not all is gloomy in the PSV manufacturing industry, however "It is a patient which shows potential for a full recovery — albeit with a very different product range."
Webster says that there are signs of hope in export markets as foreign exchange rates move in Britain's favour, but warns exporters that "there's a bit more to it than selling a bit of hardware."
The importance of the PSV industry and the problems which face it are highlighted in the latest SMMT campaign brochure. More than 7,500 of these brochures, which spell out how the market has dropped and the high continuing use of buses in this country, will be distributed to interested parties.