FOLLOWING yesterday’s Comment column and a number of similar ones over the months, we have been asked why the newspaper appears resolutely anti-bus and so, for the record, we emphatically are not.

However, when so much public money – in excess of £2m. this year, according to the States Budget report – is being syphoned into a private company with minimal supervision it is essential to keep asking what benefit the taxpayer receives from the transaction.

Environment, with its stated disdain for common sense, merely hands over £38,500 a week without question and considers what a pleasant change it makes from hounding Avant Garden, retrospectively going after small businesses in  portable accommodation at Fontaine Vinery or persecuting shed owners.

Minister: ‘Where’s the department’s Richstricter Scale of Grief at the moment?’

Beaming official: ‘Hovering on 6.8, chief. We’ve had a good month.’

Minister: ‘Excellent, keep up the good work. By the way, didn’t you mention that the only way of demonstrating value for money on the bus contract was to go out to tender?’

Suddenly wary official: ‘Yes, indeed, minister…’

Minister: ‘We’re not going to do that, are we?’

Again beaming official: ‘Heavens, no, minister. What a suggestion…’

The previous Traffic Committee had a use for buses that, in its view, was achievable, would deliver benefits but, above all, was measurable. It either worked or it did not and its value could accordingly be demonstrated.

Tribal, the financial transformation plan consultants, took one look at what the taxpayer currently receives for today’s expenditure in the wreckage of the previous plan and threw up its hands in horror.

Environment’s aim is merely to encourage bus use, but there is no why? No end benefit that can be tested.

With 61,747 cars and light vans, 14,030 commercials and 1,069 motorcycles, plus 45,000 active provisional and full driving licences in a population of 62,431, not many islanders appear to lack mobility. But Environment demonstrates no interest in lessening that saturation car use figure or the 34% of greenhouse emissions that it creates.

In short, no newspaper bias against buses but plenty of concern about an Environment Department failing to fire on all four cylinders.