‘Don’t blame us – it’s no one’s fault’
Monday 21st November 2011, 2:30PM GMT.
ENVIRONMENT has strongly rejected claims that its road transport strategy was responsible for the collapse of the bus contract talks.
The department said it could not be blamed for the full tendering process not being set in motion.
‘It is no one’s fault,’ said an Environment spokesman.
‘Decisions have been taken over the years which seemed right at that time and those collective decisions put us in the position we are now in.
‘Island Coachways have operated services well through the years they have held the contract – the board has said it is sad to see it end this way.
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Nice to see Environment talking to the people through the press again
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“Decisions have been taken over the years which seemed right at that time” but wrong to most of use mere mortals. You just never listen it’s almost as if you think you are some kind of higher power or everyone one else is stupid. So as heads start to role Panic starts to set into the Environment Department. Your lack of use of pure common sense or forsight in your decisions has often made a right mess of situations or left a knock on effect, Along with some of the most ridiculous decisions which have done nothing for the environment its people or its economy.
We and our environment have suffered long enough now if something is this broken or flawed its time to chuck it out and start again. Also stop whining and trying to push the blame on others by saying “don’t blame us” It is pathetic.
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I tend to agree with them. contract talks break down occasionally. Seems a little harsh to have a go at the environment department for that. My issue is that those damn green and yellow buses should never have been brought here in the first place. They are way too big, and I hate the way various politicians stick their heads in the sand and continously deny it, when its so blindingly obvious to everybody.
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How many times do our “politicians” have to be reminded that they are people`s representatives and need to listen to what the people want?
There is a way to create a simple,efficient, cost effective, job creating bus service independant of the States except for regulation and service spot checks on both service quality and accounts.
I submitted a plan two years ago to The Environment Dept. and didn`t even recieve a reply, thankyou or kiss my butt.
My simple plan is basically to run six cirtuitous routes from the town bus terminus with smaller buses running every Quarter Hour.
This would give a regular service.
each route would be run on a seperate contract with the routes being rotated once a year so that no one company has a monopoly on the better paying routes. The routes would be inspected by random checks by the environment department throughout the year and any faults found with the services would need to be rectified or penalties would be applied.
There could be six seperate operators, all under the same type of contract, smaller buses meaning less congestion and polution and a more regular service. Who knows, some services may even offer music on the journey to make it more pleasant.
Of course, there would have to be tenders and negotiations with potential companies to iron out the legalities and fare structures but it would be good if a feeler was put out publicly to see if there would be anyone interested. An advert in The Press inviting interested parties to forward plans based on the above scheme would be a place to start.
I think it`s called market research.
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Slight problem with your transport strategy, nocon….
6 separate operators would surely require 6 separate bus depots to store their own vehicles.
The states can’t even provide ONE!
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Nocon, your scheme was not thought of there (Environment)so got nowhere.
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Great idea for smaller buses on other posts – but!; Modern regulations require wheelchair access and for buggies etc.
No ones fault eh ? Hopeless – vote out environment bunch next year folks.
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nocon
Multiple operators on yearly contracts? Are you for real?
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@ E.B.C
What do you think that bus operators back in the UK use re:smaller buses. ALL public transport there HAS to have wheelchair access, or else it’s just plain illegal re:the D.A act of 2003 (I think). It is perfectly possible to have “kneeling” mini bus type transport if those in power should remove their heads from their backsides and look for them properly. It’s also possible to make the transportation fit the roads.
With the use of one simple thing, called a tape measure, one can easily take two points in the road – the 1st being the edge of the kerb, the 2nd being the white line in the centre of the road. Any Bus LARGER than this dimension shouldn’t be considered.
In the words of that TV advert – SIMPLES!!!!
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On a continuation of my last post I discovered THIS with one simple Google of the phrase “kneeling mini buses”
http://www.bluebirdvehicles.com/range/low-floor-buses/
Now if it takes me (0.28 seconds) to find about 49,300,000 results……SURELY there has to be ONE solution from it…?????
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Neil,
Taxis seem to be supplying a service with more than one driver under one banner or company. Four taxi drivers could become one bus company couldn`t they? Please tell me what your question means or are you one of our thick Environment Department Members?
I did say that there would be parts of the plan to sort out and negotiate a sensible solution but I`m sure, with a bit of effort on all sides, it can.
Pete,
Some Deputy, doubtless a member of The Environment Dept. will suddenly come up with the same solution and claim it as his/hers but I don`t care as long as it is sorted out before another cock-up is made. At least it will mean that they are, at last, listening to the public.
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Nocon ..
If running the bus service you propose is so simple and lucrative, how come you aren’t doing it already ?
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Tony,
Do you not understand plain English?
I have already said that I submitted a plan and it was ignored.
I don`t profess to be a business wizard and nor do I have the accumen to set up a company and run it efficiently and do you think that The Environment is going to let anyone set up a bus company to rival theirs?
The one they are responsible for isn`t running efficiently, or profitably, so any suggestions on how THE PEOPLE think it could be run better should be listened to and investigated thoroughly.
The trouble, as with all politicians, is that they think they are “the answer to everything” and are on a good earner so anything that would prove otherwise isn`t looked into unless they can claim it as their own idea. That way fame and glory and a good wage (not to mention the odd brown envelope or two) for doing nothing is kept “in house” and the hoi-poloi are kept in their place.
Transparrent Government, bo****ks.
I am writing to Enviroment to see if anyone will answer a question I have put on various forums about whether the accounts and maintenance records of Guernseybus and Island Coachways have been regularly checked against money paid to them over the last three years which, I believe, is near £4,000,000. Strange that, as I know that some Deputies read and comment on this forum. Better not rock the boat eh? Are you still there Dave?
I have a feeling that my answer will be a load of political garbled rubbish that will mean “it`s none of your business”.
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Guernseybus went bust over ten years ago …. please try and keep up with current affairs. And if you admit don’t have the accumen to set up and run an efficient business then I don’t see you have any right to criticise anybody that has at least tried ( and for all you know is doing a startling good job in the circumstances )
In the leaked letter that appeared on the front page of the Press ( you can read English can’t you ? ) it was stated that the States has FULL access to ICW accounts.
If Environment, T&R, or Tribal Helm had found ANYTHING wrong I would hope even they would be shouting it from the rooftops and using the savings identified to plug the black hole .. Tribal in particular would have mentioned it, so they could claim a whacking percentage for yet again stating ( and repeating ) the bleeding obvious ….
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Might I recommend you all read these two documents.
http://www.gov.gg/ccm/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=14007372
http://www.gov.gg/ccm/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=14019232
In one T&R state that they have granted Environment an “Additional budget of £348,000 … required in order to fund the existing
scheduled bus service contract due to increased costs of fuel, maintenance and staffing”
And in the other Environment state, regarding the contract negotiations, they were going to “Seek a reduction in the baseline cost for the current service of at least £250,000.”
Any ideas who in Environment was going to pocket the £500,000 difference ?
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If the states dont do something fast the island will suffer as drivers have already started leaving the island.The states will have bus’s but not enough staff to operate them,again people will suffer.They have messed with drivers lives,some came here to work to support their familys and have mortgages or rent to pay and these drivers have been treated badly.Why have the states not approached them to let them know if they have jobs or not and dont give the excuse that you are in talks thats not good enough if you want staff for your bus’s then get your finger out or everyone will suffer.
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I have also heard that drivers are starting to leave the island. I think it is ludicrous of Environment to try to wriggle out of this one….. of course it is their fault. They must have know that expecting a private company to invest in a business while on a 12 month contract with a 6 mth get-out clause would make them run a mile, especially when that company was under the impression that their contract would be for 3 years. It is extremely likely now that we will have no public transport in the spring, or if we do have one, it will be very reduced from what we have now and probably cost us more.
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Well we now have 5 companies interested in running a service and a possible bus depot area. Maybe my wacky scheme isn`t so far fetched after all. Competition is supposed to be good isn`t it?
All it needs now is for some wise Deputy to gather these companies together and maybe discus sharing routes and garage facilities.(I won`t hold my breath on the wise deputy.)
8 drivers per route with 6 routes would take care of all but 2 of the 50 redundant drivers that will occur if today`s bus company collapses. Of course 6 routes could become 7 or 8 so employing more and giving better area coverage with a 15 minute service and smaller more economical buses. There might even be the opportunity for a seperate company, running larger buses, to be dedicated to the schools needs. Part time opportunities for other drivers.
THINK ABOUT IT.
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