Glasgow bus war truce ahead?
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• The Traffic Commissioner for Scotland has been asked to step in and sort out Glasgow's "bus war".
Strathclyde Regional Council passed a resolution last week calling for the Commissioner, Hugh McNamara, to impose traffic regulation conditions on bus operators in the city centre.
The Council's highways chief, Councillor Malcolm Waugh, wants the number of buses operating in the city to be cut by one third. Two of the main operators, Strathclyde Buses and the Scottish Bus Group have refused to make voluntary cuts.
Councillors have been worried that full deregulation of the buses would lead to a repeat of the chaotic scenes of traffic congestion in recent weeks. The worst problems arose on Saturday, October 11 when seven road closures and a CND march through the city centre brought Glasgow to a standstill. Strathclyde Buses and the Scottish Bus Group have both refused to make voluntary cuts to services in the Glasgow 'bus war.'
However, Glasgow Council's own press office admitted that the first day following full deregulation passed with few hitches and no major traffic hold-ups. The past few days has seen a greater police presence on the streets cutting back on a number of illegally parked cars which added to the difficulties.
If the Commissioner decides not to impose traffic con
ditions without delay it is likely that formal appeals by the two bus companies could mean he will hold a public inquiry into the proposals.
The Commissioner held a meeting with Council members last Friday (October 31) to clarify some of the issues raised. He is now considering whether to impose the conditions without delay, as requested by Councillor Waugh.
The traffic conditions that can be imposed by the Traffic Commissioner are of regulating the routes and stopping places of services. He has no powers to cancel out a registration. He also has to be satisfied that any conditions imposed would prevent severe traffic congestion.