AMONG the news of yet more cuts to bus services on the front of last week’s Globe, I was disappointed (but by no means surprised) that Stagecoach’s consultation for the plans will last for just two weeks.
This is a ridiculously short amount of time for a decision that can and will have a detrimental impact on people’s ability to get to work and will, especially for older people and those with mobility issues, increase social isolation.
The fact the opportunity to comment is only available online is also unacceptable.
Many older people do not use the internet and are effectively being denied the opportunity to comment.
This coupled with the tiny window of opportunity to comment shows this consultation exercise for what it is: a sham.
This is not a genuine attempt to gather people’s views.
This decision has been based purely on the profitability of routes as opposed to the needs of the communities that rely on these services.
It also flies in the face of the climate emergency by increasing car dependence.
Now, more than ever, it is clear that the privatisation of public transport has failed and we urgently need to bring public transport back into the public sector.
Harry Gorman, Green Party
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