When it comes to buses, there is a clear choice. We have seen many cuts in the last five years, administered by local authorities, but absolutely as part of a grander plan by the national government.
If the Conservatives form the next government, you can expect more bus services to be cut. Many areas that are connected now are likely to see their bus services lose subsidy and therefore cease to operate. Some lucky areas will only lose evening and Sunday services, but others, especially rural areas, could be cut off completely. For anyone without a car it would represent a major curtailment of the freedom of movement. It would also be bad news for the wider local economy as people are more limited in what jobs they can apply for, meaning companies have a smaller pool of people to recruit from. Those switching to the car will mean more congestion, so that everyone's journeys will take longer and cost more.
This blog therefore believes that a Labour-led government would be best for the country as a whole and for local bus passengers in particular. In seats where they stand a chance, I urge you to vote for the Labour Party.
In this multi-party age however, we can't ignore the smaller parties who often have even better and more sustainable ideas than the larger ones. So in those areas where Labour doesn't have a chance of being elected, I urge you to find out more about and vote for the Green Party.
In Southampton Itchen and Southampton Test, vote Labour.
In Eastleigh, Winchester, Romsey & Southampton North and New Forest East, vote Green.
Why would a 'Labour-led government be best for the country as a whole'?
ReplyDeleteThats quite a far reaching statement with nothing to back it up.
I've already given the reasons relating to transport. There's also the NHS of course, which is in grave danger. The treatment of disabled people by the coalition has been utterly disgraceful and a change at the top will show more humanity to them. Economically you can't have a thriving society if those in charge are determined to shut down all public services on which the wider economy relies. Businesses, including the private sector, non-bus-related company I work for, would be seriously harmed by the threat of leaving the EU. I could go on, but you know where to go to find out what the different parties stand for.
ReplyDeleteNobody is forcing you to vote one way or the other, I am merely making a recommendation in the same way that foreign billionaire newspaper moguls do - with the exception that I am British and I pay my full fair share of taxes in this country.
Well said
DeleteLabour though have (had) been threatening re-regulation of buses - which long term is probably even worse.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on how they would have done it. London has a very good regulated bus network that many private operators are happy to be a part of and manage to make a good profit from.
ReplyDeleteNow though, big cuts are on the way. Evening, Sunday and rural bus routes are all at serious risk. We could soon see areas like Bishops Waltham and Lyndhurst being left with no public transport at all other than buses that cater exclusively to schools and colleges.
Surely routes like the 69 would be ok I would have thiught
DeleteNothing is safe,and I agree with SotonBus.Lots of future changes not too look forward too
DeleteI note the timetables are now on the More and Bluestar website for the Summer New Forest Buses-I note the 6 between Southampton and Lymington will have a Summer Sunday service of a much improved frequency on Sundays and marketed as the Forest Bus and the new Weekend service between Hythe and Moors Valley Country Park will be marketed as Baby Forest Bus with no service number-No mention up to present of last years 112 Beach Bus which by all accounts was very successful-Could it be where it was so successful last year,that this year they won't be operating it
ReplyDeleteThese Forest/Baby Forest services are running up to 31st October, very bold financial backing from the NFNP. I get the impression that some vehicles on the service 6 will be route branded as 'the Forest Bus'. The Monday to Saturday service seems to be changed very little (if at all) - the major change being the hourly Sunday service.
DeleteAnd it appears that concessionary passes will be valid on FBB. Stand by for deep cuts in supported services else where in Hampshire to pay for this.
DeleteWhat kind of logic is this? So we provide support for holidaymakers to freeload around the area at the expense of residents (who actually PAY the council tax that pays for all this). What a shambles!
That is if the funding is coming from the transport pots. Might it possibly come from something like tourism? There's also Moors Valley, which although having a Ringwood address, is in Dorset! Is some help coming from Dorset?
DeleteJust found something about the invitation to tender http://www.publictenders.net/node/2923894. It was from New Forest National Park Authority, so nothing to do with Hampshire. This is how it was described
DeleteDescription
Forest Bus Baby will be a high profile, weekend plus Bank Holidays, seasonal service between Hythe Ferry and Moors Valley Country Park - via Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, Burley and Ringwood. The dates of service are proposed to be from 24 May to either 27 September
or 31 October 2015
Unless the NFNPA are planning to reimburse Hampshire (and Dorset) councils for the use of concessionary passes, then it will inevitably cost those councils some money and this will almost certainly come out of the transport budget, and lead to cuts in subsidised services elsewhere for residents of those counties.
DeleteGSC ain't a charity and will expect to be paid for carrying passholding holidaymakers.
Assuming that the vast majority of users will be tourists, if they don't use FBB, they are likely to use, as far as is possible, other routes with their passes. That's how it seems to me. Thus the costs to the council concessionary budget may not be as large as feared. Also the period is short and may be coverable by the fag end of the budget.
DeleteNo different to any other service where they would be expected to receive a payment for any passholder wether holiday maker or not
DeleteBeach Bus is back this year, the appropriate flags are on all bus stops along the route already.
ReplyDeleteWill have a new service number this year that being number 99-The 112 is staying as it is at present-
DeleteThat's good to know-For anyone wanting the Baby Forest Bus on traveline,enter service FBB then Bluestar as operator-
ReplyDelete...and won't the shareholders' views and choices come in to what happens? Be too aggressive in reaction; want to maintain dividends at any cost, and cut cut cut, I don't think in the end that would be to their benefit.
ReplyDeleteMay be they and the operators are changing their strategy?
Years ago W&D priced themselves out of the tendered Ringwood Circular. Now they are running it commercially half-hourly with a more or less dedicated new bus, and from later this month a later trip.
The Forest Baby Bus will be operated by Ringwood and Lymington depots and it is not a Bluestar service.
ReplyDeleteWith Go South Coast it's difficult to know who operates what-The timetable is on both the More and Bluestar website-On traveline it comes up if you put Bluester as the operator,however it's More as the operator which if you enter as the opeartor,it does not come up-It's no wonder the public are confused-Go South Coast need to get their act right in who operates what,another example being the 39 Romsey to Nomansland which most presume as an Wilts and Dorset service but is now operated by Tourist Coaches which most of the general public have never heard of
ReplyDeleteAnnounced yesterday.
ReplyDeleteGardbus has ceased trading with immediate effect
Customer information: Please be advised that Gardbus has ceased trading with immediate effect.
Insolvency practitioners will be appointed and a helpline for affected creditors will be announced shortly.
We thank you for your custom over the past 6 years.
Customers should contact the local authority in the area in which they live for details of alternative transport arrangements.