‘We are already moving ahead with bus report’

Wednesday 30th September 2009, 2:29PM BST.

0686493 ENVIRONMENT could take a report on the bus service to the States as early as next month, according to the department’s minister.

Tribal Consulting, in its Fundamental Spending Review, said the current bus contract needed to be examined and it suggested the £2.25m. spent each year subsidising the service should be reduced or withdrawn.

But Deputy Peter Sirett (pictured) said that, while he agreed with the report, it had highlighted moves that were already being made.

‘To a large extent, it is only really saying what we are all doing,’ he said.

‘From our point of view they have gone into some detail about the bus service but we will be bringing a report to the States, probably next month, about the work we have been doing on the service.’

He said Environment had conducted a full review of the service, including looking at the level of subsidy.

‘We have been looking at how we can provide the service in the future, which is something we have been doing for some time now,’ he said.

‘We have been looking at the whole provision of the service, how it operates, the routes and even the buses themselves.’

Tribal Consulting said there was significant scope to reduce the cost of the service and increase income.

It suggested more than £3.6m. could be saved over the five years of the Fundamental Spending Review proposals.

1
sarah

October 8, 2009 at 12:22 pm

I think those huge buses should be taken off the roads! It will only be a matter of time before one kills someone, they are far too big. I stopped dead the other day as one came towards me, it ripped my wing mirror clean off! Did they stop? No, don’t be silly. I don’t know how they haven’t been banned already, I hate the things, I cringe everytime I pass one. They are never full either. I think the smaller intransit ones are perfect, Island Coachways should get them instead.

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2
Paul

October 9, 2009 at 9:54 am

Why are we all paying £50 p.a. to subsidise the bus service?
Jersey charge £1 per journey, £1.50 peak times.This together with paid parking ensures the bus srevice is well used. Our system does not encourage bus useage and the amount of empty buses at various times of the day is just a ridiculous waste of taxpayers money, not to mention the damage to the enviroment.

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3
Mal B Smith

October 10, 2009 at 11:07 pm

Somebody should write a book about this island bus service, from when the States fiddled it in, to the vast overspends to try and make it work. How they changed the law not once but twice to keep it. How a deputy refused to put the routes out to tender as prescribed by law, as he felt comfortable with the present situation. The States had a big problem, how to turn a nearly bankrupt coach company into a working bus operator. Answer,throw millions upon millions of pounds at the company in the hope that eventually they will get it right. This has been the most expensive bus company ever to operate on the island, and we, the people have had to pay millions of pounds extra for this States experiment in people transportation. The WAO report states that the routes should be put out to tender ASAP. The only trouble with that is the States have brought in so many knew rules and regulations regarding transport, that it is nearly impossible for any new bus company to set up here. So, come on you budding authors, all you have to do for research is to read the back copies of this newspaper for information. You will reveal all of man’s faults, failures and aspirations. Guaranteed a best seller.

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4
George Haddon

October 12, 2009 at 1:31 pm

I agree with Sarah the buses are totally oversized and of the wrong design for our roads.I’ve heard all the excuses from those responsible for their purchase and they are all rubbish.

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5
TL

October 12, 2009 at 2:11 pm

Before any more buses are purchased, the body responsible should take a trip to Capri (a nice little holiday, so they should jump at the chance) and check out the buses they use there. Fantastic, compact buses. A slightly longer version would be perfect here.

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