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20th February 2006

Dear Sir,

We read with interest 'Bus System Shake-up on its Way' (Friday 17th Feb) because, as local transport campaigners, we have known for a long time that the authorities need more powers to regulate bus services.

And it is not just us who believe this. A 2005 survey found that only 20% of MPs in the North felt that bus companies listened to their concerns and responded appropriately, 19% believed that their constituents were happy with bus services and only 17% thought that deregulation has improved the bus services.

A recent public meeting in Moss Side illustrated the darker side of regulation. First Bus felt that they could make more money by taking the 53 bus away from Moss Side and running it past the universities instead. No one could stop them doing this and so they did, on 29th January this year.

Residents of Moss Side and Longsight have lost a key cross-city link, and these are areas of relatively low car ownership. In particular, Moss Side residents complained that there was no longer a service to Longsight Market as well as to key leisure and education facilities.

The story has been different in London, where buses are regulated, and do not only run where the operators can make the most money. Quite frankly, if it's good for London it's good enough for Greater Manchester.

Yours

Graeme Sherriff, Longsight Transport Project
and Ali Abbas, Manchester Friends of the Earth

 

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