GHA Group (Bryn Melyn, Vale Travel + Others)

[Mayneway]

RE: GHA Group (Bryn Melyn, Vale Travel + Others)

(07/08/2016 19:43)Dentonian Wrote:  All I can suggest is you continue to report these incidents of early running. I know who you mean from previous conversations, and I know their management were "summoned" to a meeting at TFGM HQ some months ago. Since then, I have noticed an improvement in vehicle compliance, but concede I can't speak for punctuality on your evening service. Although I wouldn't go sofaras naming specific "preferred" Operators, maybe you should also write to one of the TFGMC members in your area, stating that you are a taxpayer and as such your views are just as important as those of the Motorists lobby in your area. If I'm right, you live in the same borough as the leading propogandist against TIF, so that might be an interesting conversation to have! You should point out that you are prepared to pay a little extra council tax, if it meant safer roads, and ultimately better freedom of movement for non motorists. I'll leave you to find any comparisons you might want to give in terms of other areas of Council spending that you disagree with - I'm sure there are many, and that's just under the broad heading of Transport.

Its a thorny issue and like you I've been told that LA's would rather spend the money spent on tenders elsewhere and the way things are going that will probably happen sooner rather than later.
The original point was that some local authorities in Cheshire turned a blind eye to GHA's poor attempts to run tendered services but TFGM is no different. I've given the example above and to be honest it dosen't matter how many meetings the management get hauled to the fact is there running some of these contracts for such little money that you cannot expect service quality to be anything but poor.

Is it not fair to say TFGM turned a blind eye to the activities of JPT in the final 12 months before their demise? Early or non running was a major problem as was fiddling by drivers. Imagine my surprise when I got on a tendered evening service one night asked how much the fare was home to be asked 'how much did I want to pay'? And this wasn't a one off it happened time and time again. The use of non standard high floor elderly deckers on the 217. A service that carried a lot of elderly and disabled because at the time it went to Tameside hospital, yet It was a weekly occurance.

I'm not having a pop at TFGM but this crazy idea that cheapest is best isn't the case - I know it's a government rule, part of the transport act I think, but I personally feel that it ends up costing us taxpayers more in the long run anyway.