LCR Bus Franchising

[SK15 GZG (Moderator)]

RE: LCR Bus Franchising

(25/02/2022 09:41)Barney Wrote:  As someone who remembers a time before deregulation and privatisation, I have to disagree with you. Prior to 1986, bus services were infinitely more accessible (extensive and frequent) and affordable to the general population. Also, if the franchise model is good enough for London, why isn't it good enough for the LCR?

Yes, this will come at a cost to the taxpayer but so does everything else in a civilised society. UK bus operations are virtually unique in the western world in that they are expected to finance themselves which, in a time when the planet is trying to decarbonise makes no sense at all.

The recent squandering of billions during the pandemic shows that money can be found if the political will is there.

As a taxpayer I'm not particularly keen on paying more council tax for a service which my family and I very rarely use. I also note (unsurprisingly) that Rotheram hasn't mentioned the important fact the price of having a franchised bus network is higher council tax bills. I expect the reason why he hasn't mentioned it is because if LCR taxpayers knew this then this pie-in-the-sky idea wouldn't get off the ground

If anyone thinks that central government is going to pay for franchising in the Liverpool City Region then they're very much mistaken I'm afraid