MP SEEKS VIEWS ON BUS PROPOSAL
February 3, 2012 7:07 PM
In a rural community like ours, public transport provides a vital life-link for many local residents. Whether you use the bus to get to the shops, to the GP or hospital, or to visit family and friends - busses are an essential part of many people's way of life.
Over the last couple of months there has been a lot of discussion in Cornwall about the future for our more rural routes as the Conservative-led Cornwall Council discuss plans to end the subsidy on some of the less profitable routes in the county.
You will, like me, have seen buses running with very few (and sometimes no) passengers on board. Often these routes are deemed as 'non-commercial' which means that they don't make a profit and service providers like First or Western Greyhound only run them with the help of a public subsidy.
Now, the Council is looking to cut its total budget for public transport in the county and is contemplating cutting these services. My Liberal Democrat colleagues on Cornwall Council and I have fought these plans since they were first mooted last summer. I firmly believe that we must protect our rural transport.
At a meeting of senior Councillors last week, the opposition to the plans had a key win, and Cornwall Council agreed to find the cash to continue supporting the routes for the next two years while they look for an alternative solution to save the money.
This is leading the Council to look at the older persons bus pass to see if they can make savings in the cost of providing free travel to pensioners. I've always seen the value of the bus pass both as a means to help older people in our community get access to basic services like hospital appointments, the local shop or the library, but also a way to enable them to play a full role in our society and visit friends and relatives or to enjoy a social life - something which becomes harder with age and decreased mobility.
Now, Cornwall Council are seeking to charge a reduced fare rather than allowing them to travel for free. The council believes that a flat fare of 50p would enable it to make up the short fall in supporting the routes as a whole. Because of the way that the money is paid out to bus companies for carrying passengers holding a bus pass, the council is asking the Communities & Local Government Minister, Eric Pickles, whether he will consider allowing Cornwall to trial such a scheme.
I would be very keen to hear what you, as my constituents, think about this idea. Many people have already told me that they would rather pay a small cost and have the routes retained rather than have no buses at all.
Get in touch with me by writing to 10 South Street, St Austell, PL25 5BH or email steve@stevegilbert.info.
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