The Tyne and Wear ITA and Nexus have delayed their decision on how to deliver improvements for Tyne and Wear’s buses until the ‘late spring/early summer 2013.’
In a report to the ITA to be tabled at their meeting on January 24, Nexus claims this is to allow “further engagement … with adjacent local authorities, to ensure any quality contract scheme proposals provide benefit to their areas.”
Tom Dodds, secretary of the North East Bus Operators’ Association (NEBOA), said: “This delay gives NEBOA more time to work with Nexus to further improve the partnership agreement, to which NEBOA remains firmly committed.
“Working in partnership offers terrific benefits for bus users and local authorities without the tremendous risks posed by a contracts scheme. NEBOA believes a contract scheme will inevitably lead to service cuts as local authority budgets are squeezed.
“The partnership offering already contains savings for Nexus and savings for passengers amounting to up to £1.7m. The partnership proposal produces a stable network with changes and improvements being presented to Local Partnership Boards.”
While work continues on improving the partnership agreement, a summary of the proposals in the ‘Better by Far’ document is available at www.northeastbus.org.
