Sir Mark Hendrick MP

A note from Deputy Leader Martyn Rawlinson following his meeting with Preston Bus; Preston is experiencing the worst of all worlds when it comes to bus services. Deregulation by the Thatcher government in the 1980’s (effectively privatisation) left council-run buses and co-ops (like Preston Bus) open to aggressive takeovers by profiteers. Preston’s size, geography and population (despite growth) doesn’t quite support the kind of services you find in Manchester and Liverpool, not without considerable subsidy or risk-taking to change habits from cars. Devolution could help but that in itself is a lottery in terms of who is in charge, their priorities and how it is all sliced up. To be fair to Preston Bus, there have been improvements to both the services and the infrastructure of their business. However, when you think that they are in receipt of subsidies from at least two government streams, LCC and even some developer contributions from planning applications, the mind boggles on what it would take for Preston to have an effective, affordable bus service! The last government banned Councils starting bus services. This has been reversed but after years of funding cuts, which councils can afford the multi-millions required to get back in the game? Municipalisation or nationalisation are the preferred options but don’t seem to be on the cards. The alternative is a single national private operator who could run it cheaper - but corporate strangleholds are rarely good. As I said, the worst of all worlds. Preston Labour will consider options. Main points; *PB say that the £3.50 fare is currently necessary due to being short-changed on the £3 fare cap scheme. Companies operating on bigger footprints can cross-subsidise. Not ruling out re-joining. *School buses were losing money and all overheads have risen, (so basically, subsidy required to make these more affordable but the transport authority, LCC, refuse) *Other Rotala services in other areas have faced similar challenges but the big cities fare better with more passengers and subsidised travel schemes, (so Preston and Lancashire penalised for not having a Mayor and regional governance) *Cross-service multi-tickets currently do not work financially for Preston Bus as the other main operator is working on a different level in terms of scale (so they would likely be short-changed again) *Acknowledged that £3.50 for very short journeys is problematic and will look at what can be done *Real-time info is coming back this year *Child fare is now up to, and including 18 years of age *Acknowledged importance of good quality, reliable services, especially first/last bus that people rely on *20 new buses with more electric buses to follow (3 at once?) *More frequent buses on busiest routes

Too many are too polite to say this. But mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination. The adhan - which declares there is no god but allah and Muhammad is his messenger - is, when called in a public place, a declaration of domination. Perform these rituals in mosques if you wish. But they are not welcome in our public places and shared institutions. And given their explicit repudiation of Christianity they certainly do not belong in our churches and cathedrals. I am not suggesting everybody at Trafalgar Square last night is an Islamist. But the domination of public places is straight from the Islamist playbook. Trafalgar Square belongs to all of us. It is a national memorial to our independence and our salvation. Last night was not like a televised football match or a St Patrick’s Day celebration. It was an act of domination and therefore division. It shouldn’t happen again.