Gary's views

POST CODE LOTTERY

Most of us have cars, but a vibrant bus service is vital to keep our communities alive, and even more so if we are to reduce carbon emissions. In Plymstock the bus service seems worse than the one in Plympton and the only reason seems to be that the bus operator is less efficient. The First Bus Company does not have a great track record in our region, and has made heavy losses. Recent changes to the numbers 5/6 and 7 in Plymstock have gone down like a led balloon.

The system we currently operate is a network of different private bus operators all over the country who exist to run their services to make a profit. Where there are important routes which are uneconomic, the bus company can apply to the local council which may subsidise that route to keep it going for wider social reasons. There are two main problems with this system: first of all some operators are much better than others. The well run operators can make more routes pay than the less efficient and therefore run more services without the need for subsidy. This is definitely the case in the battle between Citybus and First. I have a very small file of complaints about the Plympton service over the years, whereas the Plymstock file has helped to cut down many trees. In rural areas, even the occasional sighting of a bus causes great excitement.

Second, at a time when all councils are under great pressure with their budgets, one of the first things they will look to cut is the bus subsidy which only impacts a minority of their residents. There is not much hope in expecting councils to cough up more support in the near future.

There is no reason why Citybus cannot extend its service fully into Plymstock so that it covers the whole of the city. It could start by bidding for the new high quality bus links to Sherford as and when that contract is put out to tender and then spread out from there. I will be encouraging the management of Citybus to do precisely that. If First respond and start producing a better service, all well and good.

Real competition can help drive standards up for the benefit of all. It is time to bring our post code bus lottery to an end and give a better service for those living in Plymstock.