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Posts Tagged ‘buses’
Rats and sinking ships
Written by Mev Brown
Sunday, 17 April 2011 16:16
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I was never a fan of the trams.

As long ago as 2005, I was calling for the tram project to be scrapped.

But these days, Edinburgh’s embattled Trams are losing their friends – and fast…

First is was the Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott, who said he does not intend to spend “one more penny” on the troubled tram project in Edinburgh.

As transport minister in the previous Labour-Lib Dem administration, Mr Scott steered the Edinburgh Trams Act through parliament but the project has since ground to a halt amid contractual difficulties.

Good job - READ FULL STORY

Then came the bad news from the Tories, with their manifesto commitment:  ”ruling out any further government funding for the project”. READ FULL STORY

Off course, they voted for it in the Scottish Parliament. But things were different then.

There wasn’t an election looming…

 
SOB – Save Our Buses
Written by Mev Brown
Thursday, 02 September 2010 20:51
1 Comment

There have been persistent rumours the council wants to sell off Lothian Buses help fund the trams .

Here are three interesting articles:

Sell off denial

Lothian Buses profits up

Labour fund-raising

And for you conspiracy theorists out there -

TIE takes the chair at Lothian Buses

Most recently, here is the Evening New front page story that the funding will run out at Haymarket: York Place or bust!

I’m no financial expert, but my understanding is that Lothian Buses could sell for somewhere between £92and £138 million, on the basis of a price-earning ratio of between 10 and 15 given the profits announcement.

In recent year Edinburgh Council has tried to sell off the housing stock and also tried to introduce the congestion charging scheme.

If the Council sold Lothian Buses, more service cuts and higher fares would be sure to follow. And over half the residents in Liberton & Gilmerton don’t have cars and rely on Lothian Buses.

The council needs a clear warning to take the buses of the political agenda.

And my winning the by-election would be the best warning possible.

The next full Council elections are in 2012, and the thought that their policy position on Lothian Buses might mean they would lose their job to anti-trams campaigners would certainly make them sit up and take notice.

 
Today, Southhouse…
Written by Mev Brown
Saturday, 28 August 2010 21:29
3 Comments

I started campaigning in my own area, Southhouse.

I’ve talked to residents about everything from blocked drains to trident and everything in between.

One issue that many parents have expressed particular concerns about is that there had been no lollipop lady (or school crossings patrol guide, to use the official job description) on the Captains Road crossing all year, and I promised that I would call the council about it next week.

Burdiehouse Primary - closed earlier this year

The problem had been exacerbated with the closure of Burdiehouse primary school, resulting in a considerable increase in the number of infants using the Captains Road crossing.

Many parents are angry that the politicians can find the money for the trams, but will close a popular school at the drop of a hat.

Indeed, I’ve been surprised at the level of concern – and anger about the rumour that the Lib-Dem/SNP council is looking at selling Lothian Buses to pay for the trams.

Over half the residents around here don’t have cars and rely on the buses and are happy to hear that there is at least one candidate against the trams.

Everybody knows the fare would go up and there would be more service cuts if the council sold the Lothian buses off.