The possibility of legal action to halt the Plymouth’s Conservative Council from selling Citybus has been raised by local MPs, Labour councillors and trade unions.
 
Worrying information has come to light over the costing of various assets by the council. Cllr Tudor Evans, the Labour Leader of the Opposition on the Council, has become aware of advice that the council has received showing that Citybus’ assets are worth significantly more than Plymouth City Council had originally claimed: raising fears that the sale represents a major gift to private bus companies by selling Citybus at a cut-price. The council’s mishandling of the process along with concerns about the impact of the sell-off on the city have raised calls for a judicial review to halt or delay the council’s proposed sale so proper scrutiny can take place of the council’s actions.
 
Local Labour councillors, Members of Parliament and residents have been campaigning against the sale and are even more concerned about the potential impact on the city given the experience in Southampton, Poole and the Isle of Wight of Go-Ahead running services there. Go-Ahead have reduced services, removed local management, cut staffing levels and serious concerns have been raised about the safety on the buses and the problems arising from this have been reported in local papers[1]. Some of the lapses in safety and standards have been sufficient for public inquiries to be launched in those areas.
 
Linda Gilroy. MP for Plymouth, Sutton, secured a debate at Westminster, in October, on the council’s plans which was also attended by Alison Seabeck, the MP for Plymouth Devonport and Chris Mole, Minister at the Department for Transport.
 
Linda Gilroy MP and Alison Seabeck MP today issued a joint statement saying:
 
“We are both extremely concerned about these new developments. The council’s policy of selling Citybus is misguided and their handling of the process is very questionable. The people of Plymouth deserve better.
 
“We have a bus system which serves this city well – Citybus is safe, performs well, provides local jobs and is a symbol of pride for our city. We cannot understand the council’s blind determination to press ahead with this sale irrespective of the cost to residents.
 
“The experience of other towns and cities has shown that privatisation of an asset like Citybus delivers no benefits for local residents. The revelation that the council has failed to accurately value Citybus’ assets only heightens our concerns that the council plans to effect a sale which will bring real benefits to the new owners but nothing to the people of Plymouth but the risk of higher fares and fewer services”

24 November 2009