OUTRIGHT States ownership of the bus service is unrealistic, according to Island Coachways.
Managing director Hannah Beacom’s comments follow an Environment Department report asking for consultants to recommend the way forward for bus services in the next 25 years.
Island Coachways currently receives a £2.25m. annual subsidy.
The company’s contract ends in January 2012 and the States previously decided that it would be competitively tendered.
Mrs Beacom (pictured) said the States was not an expert at running a bus company and neither did it have experience of doing so.
‘The expertise would need to be brought in from outside the States, which we would expect to be more costly than the way the contract currently operates – not to mention the very time-consuming drain on resources for the department.
‘Outsourcing the contract to an experienced local company is arguably the best way forward,’ she said.
Mrs Beacom said Island Coachways had many factors in its favour for retaining the contract.
‘We have a long service history and extensive knowledge of the contract. This places us in the position of being the most skilled and experienced local company for consideration in the tender process.’
She said the department had described the company’s service provision as high quality and there had been a significant rise in passenger numbers.
Mrs Beacom said islanders would be best served by continuity.
‘We believe that with our service history record, we can continue to provide the best service for the travelling public and build on our achievements to date.’
The Fundamental Spending Review said the States needed to investigate the bus contract to identify a model that allowed the service to break even and suggested £3.623m. could be saved over five years.
Island Coachways, said Mrs Beacom, was acutely aware of the political ramifications arising from the bus service subsidy.
‘In the current climate, it is vital that the operation of the bus service provides good value,’ she said.
She outlined some of the ways in which it aimed to be cost efficient, including providing monthly financial reports to Environment and working to a budget the department set.
‘Employee costs are tightly controlled and we look for value for money from our suppliers and follow best practice, seeking alternative quotes on large purchases where possible.
‘We also have a management system to ensure issue of fuel to our fleet vehicles only.’
Under Environment’s proposals, consultants would examine various options including whether the subsidy should continue, whether the States should take full control or whether a company should be responsible for supplying and operating the buses.
Article posted on 11th November, 2009 - 1.00pm
4 Article Comments
Island Coachways may think they are professional but surely the width of Coaches is totally unprofessional for the type of Roads on the Island, the speed also should be an issue, reading the comments in the last article about this subject should open their eyes to the amount of complaints on this issue, Narrower buses a must and slow down before there is a more serious accident. After all Island Coachways Do Not Own The Roads.
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Oh dear. Mrs Beacom really doesn’t know much about her ’service’. She’s happy to praise Island Coachways (and herself) in the Guernsey Press but ignores complaints/criticisms. I had cause to phone up recently when a bus sailed past me leaving me standing at the bus stop. I was brushed aside. Island Coachways doesn’t know the meaning of customer service but unfortunately I do not have a choice as there is sadly no competition.
She is also wrong. The States have previously run the bus service, although not for some time now admittedly, and they did a fine job of it too. You could actually get a bus when you wanted/needed one and to where you wanted to go.
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Caroline
Agree totally.
The lanes by La Barbarie Hotel are totally unsuitable for these buses and they are always scraping walls to negotiate corners. As I said in the other thread, the service in this area is definitely under utilised and could be accomplished using a moped most the time.
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I agree with Caroline. I’ve had many near misses with these buses on the smaller roads, and also on the roundabout in Town. They just swap and change lanes as they wish.
To be fair to IC though, their bus service is pretty reliable and very competativly priced. Just wish they ran later in the evening.
The coaches they use on the Island Tours are much more suitable size for everyday buses.
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