Lanark Liberal

Since the deregulation of bus services, many vital routes rely on public subsidy to operate. In my area, First Glasgow has recently emabrked on a series of cutbaks due to lack of subsidy from the Strathclyde Passenger Transport. In my home town of Cumbernauld, half of it's 60,000 residents have had their bus service almost completely withdrawn as it is not subsidised. Meanwhile, SPT intends to invest millions in new electronic timetables at bus stops. I don't see the point in investing such money in these high-tech bus stops which will undoubtedly be destroyed by vandals within half an hour of their being erected while thousands of people are left with little or no bus service because their is no subsidy. If the government is serious about getting people out of their cars and onto public transport, and thus reducing carbon emissions, they must ensure that they provide the appropriate authorities with sufficient funding to subsidise vital bus services. The problem with the privitisation of buses is that companies are free to cut bus services at will even if they leave people stranded. Buses are essential in the battle to reduce polution, and the government must encourage their use by providing sufficient subsidies.