100 at rally against Citybus sale

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Friday, November 27, 2009
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This is Cornwall

PROTESTERS fighting the sale of Plymouth Citybus made a last  stand with a protest led by a piper on Saturday.

Starting on the Hoe the colourful flag-waving procession made its way  into the city centre.

More than 100 protestors joined the  rally organised by the Unite union.

Plymouth’s full council was to meet  today to decide whether to accept a £20.2million bid from the national transport giant Go-Ahead for its 100 per cent shareholding in Citybus.

Opponents saw the weekend’s rally as a last opportunity to make a stand.

Councillor Tudor Evans, leader of the council’s opposition Labour party, said: “The proposed sale is a scandal. This is the worst deal I have seen for the taxpayer in my 21 years on the council. There are no guarantees to keep routes beyond 2010 and there is a pall of unemployment hanging over Citybus.”

Cllr Evans said he had looked at the paperwork and believed the figures “did not add up”.

“They are underselling Citybus. It will ultimately cost the taxpayer.

“It is a rotten deal, it is a shameful deal and it is a Tory deal.”

Cllr Eddie Rennie added: “I’m weary of what might happen. There are no guarantees over jobs. I also fear routes could be scrapped.” Plymouth’s two Labour MPs also  spoke out against the sale, describing it as  ‘madness’.

Plymouth Sutton MP Linda  Gilroy said: “It is madness. The Tories are listening to the information they want to hear and they are not applying any common sense.

“They are not getting value for money and they are destroying a unique recipe.

“Citybus is an asset to the city which has provided good value for money over the years.

“Councillors should be aware that the people of Plymouth have expressed their views in strength.”

Plymouth Devonport MP Alison Seabeck, also at the protest, said: “The people of Plymouth need to know this deal does not stand up financially. The whole proposal is madness.”

Unite, the UK’s largest union, organised the rally fearing a sale could mean cuts in jobs and services.

Dave Springbett, protest organiser and Unite regional officer said: “What the city council is proposing is ridiculous. It makes no sense.”

Mr Springbett said the strength of feeling among Plymothians was evident in the fact he and his colleagues collected 25,000 signatures on a petition opposing the proposals “without trying”.

“They don’t all come out singing and dancing but it doesn’t mean that people don’t care,” he added.

Earlier this month Plymouth City Council’s cabinet agreed to accept an offer for the authority’s 100 per cent shareholding in Citybus.

The deal must be approved by the full council today for it to go forward.

Go-Ahead will pay £20.2million which, after adjustments for debt and other payments, would bring the amount the council receives down to £19.58million.

The Citybus name will stay, though Go-Ahead may change the livery.

Go-Ahead, one of five companies which submitted offers for Citybus, has agreed to maintain the school routes operated by Citybus for at least three years.

Other existing routes will be protected for at least six months with no changes. After that the council will be given 90 days notice of proposed changes.

There will be no compulsory redundancies for Citybus drivers for local bus services for the next 12 months.

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32 Comments

  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by johnno, pennycomequick

    Monday, November 30 2009, 12:48PM

    “do a google search , on ,( go ahead staff cuts ,) then you will see what kind of company Pengelly is selling the city silver to”

  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by Fathertime, Grantham

    Monday, November 30 2009, 10:26AM

    “Apologies, I dont usually disrespect others comment, but has anybody got any idea what Thermos (and Hermetic) is going on about.”

  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by paul, isleworth

    Sunday, November 29 2009, 6:45PM

    “Citybus - amateur name, amateur service, amateur drivers (50% not all, fingers down people) AND some utterly bizarre service routes has led to a city the size of Nottingham or Wolverhampton getting shafted.
    Every year at Christmas, the shopping nights are a disaster with queues of people waiting for too long on Royal Parade to get home. I walk back to my folks in Manadon, I just can't be asred to wait. No buses until they all turn up together and leave together. Citybus never ran to timetables and never ran regularly.

    I can't wait for a proper transport company to transform this city into an accessible destination once again.

    Proper express shuttles to outlying estates without clogging up services with fat idle morons going 2 stops to North Hill - that would be a good start.”

  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by Hermes (and Thelemia), Plymouth

    Sunday, November 29 2009, 6:24PM

    “There are several incidences with the illegally proposed sale of Plymouth Citybus which rhyme of corruption, nepotism, mis-management, and general lack of legal procedure. Spending nearly a half-a-million on valuation so far, with a further million planned; can only cream-off the small profit which would be returned to Plymouth public funds if sold, rather than the half-million profit Citybus earns per year being invested in Plymouth Citybus standing. If the sale goes badly in casket, will ALL the profit from the sale have already been spent lining private pockets from public money; this is especially distasteful given the recent high-profile news concerning poor management of public funds.

    Given Plymouth Corporation Transport was conceived in Plymouth brethren; in sworn will of witnessed Victorian Founders; a right defended in privileged by all who sent their families to war in the first half of the previous century- and any who stayed in church in support yet abstinence; in order such that every future Plymouth person, young, old, or infirm, regardless of class or creed, would have free safe access to transportation around The City of Plymouth and beyond. A Council controlled Plymouth Citybus means any decisions - like route abandonment, shortening of school services and other provisions, e.g. price, are kept within the democractic process. What did the Council promise originally? Plymouth Corporation Transport: please lay the lines of its course to accomodate those left behind in words.

    Importantly: A major undeveloped asset of Plymouth Citybus stands as Bretonside Bus Station. Given its prime location between the Harbour developments and the Mall; would any sale subsequently result in a later sale of the land for retail development, failing to return publicly owned funds to Plymouth Citybus; and instead lend itself to profiteering via the aforementioned 'closed' clubs: birthed in pyramidic hierarchies of power, control and manipulation?

    A few years ago, there was a plan to progress the Council into open planned offices to prevent abuse behind closed-office walled doors; and at the time Councillors were asked to indicate any private allegences held, such as Freemasonary; many refused to acknowledge the question.

    In open democracy in England, Scotland, and Wales; personally, I'd visit their buildings and pray for their souls, then look to see these matters investigated in breadth by the up-most authority in Her Majesty's Government. A new dawn rings tomorrow in all faith in Plymouth's breath.

    In better quest England believes.”

  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by David Mavin, Eggbuckland

    Sunday, November 29 2009, 2:25PM

    “Gordon, Plymouth¿perhaps I did not make myself clear, I am asking to debate wether should we have bus lanes at all.”

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