Helen speaks out over local buses
Helen has responded to the announcement that bus services from Bishop Auckland currently provided by Go Ahead Northern are likely to be provided by other companies in future.
She said, “I have been informed of the decision by Go Ahead Northern to withdraw from the major part of its commitment to providing services based on their depot in Bishop Auckland.
“I have been advised by Durham County Council that discussions are taking place with Arriva who are hoping to reach agreement to register the services and run them from their Bishop Auckland Depot.
“Obviously if the services are taken over I am given to understand that service cuts are not anticipated.
“The County Council will of course be re-negotiating the contracts for school transport currently let to Go Ahead Northern.
“There is a paramount need to preserve all existing public service routes within my constituency.”
Just this month in the House of Commons, Helen co-sponsored a private members bill that aims to put customers first in their relationships with the bus companies.
The bill would forbid bus companies from reducing bus services without prior consultation and force them to take better account of the needs of the elderly and disabled. [1]
Helen said, “It was a big mistake to deregulate bus services outside of London in the 1980s and provision has suffered as a result in many places.
“I am supporting the new bill so that bus companies will have to take account of the views of passengers when changing socially-important bus routes.”
[1] The Bus Services Bill was introduced by Andrew Miller MP on 10 January. Read the debate.
Filed under: Uncategorized on January 20th, 2006
