Manchester Bus Franchising

[B10B6514]

RE: Manchester Bus Franchising
It's the way forward. hopefully Manchester can lead the way forward providing buses as a public service ,which they should be, instead of being a cash cow run purely for maximum profit.

The essence of deregulation was a good idea to provide opportunity, but has developed into only the most profitable services operated 33 years later by the big conglomorates. With subsidies slashed through relentless government cuts especially over the last 9 years comprehensive networks have been butchered to mere skeletons.

Bus services these days are too expensive and byproducts of this are seen on the High Street as they should be treated as a fundamental part of the local economy feeding other businesses. I know internet shopping also affects the High Street but it still relies on being fedby a transport infrastructure.

It has come to something when taxis have become a cheaper form of transport than the bus. Also with today's technology buses can add to a better environment, so need to be made more attractive to achieve a lower usage of cars.

In conclusion, I would like to congratulate Andy Burnham for his stance but it will take a few years of govermental investment to reverse the effects of the last 33 years.