CIBS polls members on new licenses deal
Page 20
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
RON WHITTLE, national chairman of the Coach and Independent Bus Sector of the Confederation of British Road Passenger Transport (CIBS) has written to the organisation's members to explain the CIBS attitude to the Minister of Transport's proposed changes in the psv licensing system and to ask for their thoughts on the changes.
Mr Whittle explains, in his letter, that while the CIBS welcomes the Minister's intentions to encourage independent operators, it is anxious that appropriate quality controls will be exercised to a good standard.
Mr Whittle also says that, whilst CIBS wishes to see simplification and changes to road service licences, it is opposed to the total abolition of express and excursion and tours licences, as well as the Minister's proposed experimental areas and the encouragement of car and minibus sharing. He explains that this is in line with CIBS and PV0A thinking over the past ten years and was unanimously endorsed by the democratically elected CIBS committee — which includes members not holding Road Service Licences. He appreciates that the question of express and E and T licences was likely to cause some dissent amongst members as there are members who would like to see "the door opened wide".
He explains that it is the duty of CIBS to secure the best possible conditions for independent operators as a whole and that i feels that the abolition of these licences is not in the best long-term interests of the psv industry as a whole. He emphasises that CIBS has not been promoted in any way to protect the interests of larger operators or those with licences, but points out that it would be unfair to change the interests of a large number of CIBS merairs.
He asks operators who may feel aggrieved at the CIBS attitude to consider: • that the grass often looks greener on the other side, but is not always so green when you are there; • whether they would really like to see the price cutting they all complain of extended to these (Express and E & T) operations, • and given this fierce competition, whether they have the finance, agents, backups, and so on to be able to compete effectively in this market and still remain profitable.