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| Taxi and Bus service cuts in Aberdeen http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4259 |
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| Author: | JD [ Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:04 am ] |
| Post subject: | Taxi and Bus service cuts in Aberdeen |
Aberdeen Press and Journal August 23, 2006 Wednesday HEADLINE: Fears for north bus driving jobs BYLINE: Paul Wilson Union leaders fear cutbacks could see Highland bus drivers lose their jobs as contracts for services come to an end. Highland Council has approved plans to trim back bus and taxi services provided in the region over the next five years. Three summer bus services, from Beauly to Drumnadrochit, from Portree to Glenbrittle and from Durness to Tongue, will be scrapped altogether. Other services will run less frequently, while others will be replaced with dial-a-bus. A council spokesman yesterday blamed the cuts on increasing fuel prices and the need to provide a high standard of vehicles. Tommy Campbell of the Transport and General Workers Union said he had been in talks with Highland Council and called for assurances over jobs and passenger safety. He said: "I have been raising questions and at this stage we are waiting for them to come back to us. "We are very concerned to ensure that the jobs of those who currently carry out the work are secured and in addition if any company wins the contract we will be wanting to be assured that passenger safety, both child and adult, is guaranteed." The cuts were approved by members of Highland Council's transport, environment and community services committee last week. A report put before councillors said: "The increase in tender costs, 5.4%, has exceeded the normal budget increase, 2%, and it will not be possible to maintain the current level of service within the budget." A Highland Council spokesman said 111 bus contracts and 13 subsidised taxi contracts had been awarded at a cost of £2,255,891. He said that represented an increase in the cost of public transport contracts of 5.4% - less than half the national level of increases. Committee chairman Councillor Charlie King said almost all routes will be retained in their present form or slightly improved and that subsidised taxi contracts will be renewed in remote areas where a bus would not be practical. Bus routes in and around Nairn, on the north of the Black Isle and in the Gairloch/Aultbea area will be converted to dial-a-bus. The changes will come into effect from January 1. ................................................... |
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