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3. In what ways do you envisage reregulation being used to improve bus services?
Hopefully, there could be more integrated ticketing and timetables which would
make journeys more convenient. There should be ways of specifying minimum levels
of service.
4. How can community transport be better utilised to serve local communities and
particularly low passenger volume routes?
The worry is that if Community Transport is better utilised it could mean that this will
become the norm in rural areas, particularly in those areas that at present have a
bus service that is maybe not highly profitable. There has to be a distinction between
the rural areas that are very remote and therefore Community Transport may be the
only viable solution and rural areas that are within a few miles of main towns. In these
areas, near to towns, a bus service with sensible timetabling into the nearest town
should be possible.
5. Do you agree that the Traffic Commissioner should be able to impose greater
financial penalties on operators who a) fail to meet the terms of the franchise or b)
walk away from the franchise altogether?
Yes, providing that any financial penalties are used to benefit the bus services as a
whole.
6. What is your assessment of the likely financial implications of the proposed Bill to
you or your organisation? What other significant financial implications are likely to
arise?
There could be a negative effect if small local bus companies are unable to tender
for franchises.
7. Is the proposed Bill likely to have any substantial positive or negative implications
for equality? If it is likely to have a substantial negative implication, how might this be
minimised or avoided?
In our area it is the non car driving adults who rely on the bus and older school
children who want to use the bus to gain some independence from their taxi driving
parents. If services can be tailored to the needs of these groups they could use the
buses more and therefore bus companies would become more viableprofit.
8. Do you have any other comment or suggestion that is relevant to the need for or
detail of this Bill?
There should be liaison with rail services in order for there to be better connections
between the two. They should be working together to produce seamless journeys.
Proposals must seek to protect, and encourage, the small bus operators who provide
local employment and local knowledge. Large franchises risk creating monopolies of
large bus companies who can then dictate their terms.