I am at war with Manchester Airport.

Not literally, obviously. Because they’d win, what with their access to radar and aeroplanes. Not to mention duty free booze for the victory party afterwards.

But I am having a strongly-worded dispute with them all the same. And it concerns the fact that their recent security improvements are having a direct financial impact on regular people coming to pick up their relatives. And more importantly, those regular people now include me, as I found out a few weeks back.

I arrived to pick Tam up off a flight, and discovered that I could no longer drive up outside the terminal and wait. This is understandable given the attraction of airport curb-sides to people with bombs in their boots. But no free alternative provision has been made by the airport, and so the ludicrous situation arises whereby I drove into the car park and then had to pay to get out, despite being in there for less than a minute.

In fact, had I not had my credit card on me to pay at the exit barrier, I would have had to spend five times longer in there, parking up, and walking to a pay machine and back. And the only reason I would have had to stay was because I needed to pay for a stay I wouldn’t have had to make without the need to pay in the first place. Which makes my brain hurt a bit.

I wrote to the airport in the hope that their brains would hurt too. And they obviously did, because it was only today that I received a reply, six weeks later. They claim to have reduced the cost of very short stays. This may be true, but they haven’t reduced it to nothing, which is what it was before.

It is not impossible to implement a system which makes, say, the first ten minutes free. This would allow people who are simply coming to pick up a passenger the ability to find their loved one, load a suitcase, and get out, and to do this without incurring a charge. This type of system operates in lots of car parks in the city centre, where if you have a sudden change of heart or are struggling to find a space, you can leave without paying. But the airport haven’t done this. Nor have they given me an  answer yet as to why not. And so I have asked them again today.

I fully appreciate the need for tougher security. It’s a shame, but it’s needed. And I also appreciate the efforts airports go to to protect our safety, and the difficult job they must have doing it. But there is no need that I can see to penalise people in this way. If I park at an airport for half an hour, charge me. If I have to enter the car park for thirty seconds because if I don’t then the only alternative sees her wheeling her suitcase all the way home herself, then I think I should get in and out for free. 

Rick

Last night’s full Council meeting was, in large parts, the usual depressing slanging match between Councillors who really should know better. Watching grown men (and women) making snide remarks and childish comments  across a room, when there are people with real problems in the Borough, is not pleasant.

I raised the issue of the Butterstile Children’s Centre, and was pleased to hear from the Executive Member for Children’s Services that it will be up and running on time at the start of next academic year. Also, the outreach facilities to Rainsough and Carr Clough will also be available, which is great news. It’s taken a while to get where we are, but it will still be finished in time, and after the right processes have been followed for all local people. The Children’s Centre will be a great asset for the ward, and really have a positive impact on families locally.

A couple of people raised the issue of the toilets at Bury interchange last night. I raised it again this morning at the meeting of the Transport Network Committee of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority. The toilets are, it turns out, the responsibility of the Council, and they really do need sorting out because they’re in quite a state. Not the right welcome to the Borough for people arriving by bus or Metrolink.

That is assuming, of course, that the Metrolink gets them here at all. I spoke once more about Metrolink this morning. I am still deeply dissatisfied with this system, supposedly the flagship public transport system for Manchester. It is still, in my opinion, far too expensive, dirty, unsafe and unreliable. On Friday I stood waiting for a very long time at Bowker Vale, a station so decrepit that it looks nigh-on abandoned, and was genuinely scared by some of the anti-social behaviour by some people who treat the network like their own uncontrolled playground. I have raised the issue many times, and in other parts of the network there are efforts to improve both the condition and the safety of stations. The Prestwich section seems not to benefit, and although improved ticket machines and CCTV are in the pipeline, they aren’t coming quickly enough.

This may have been my last ever Transport Network Committee, because I may not serve on GMPTA again next year after the elections. But I am glad I raised the issue, and will do so again given the chance.

Rick

People in Bury are being given the chance to raise public transport issues face-to-face with the managers responsible for running their services next week.
Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) is hosting a Transport Operator Surgery at Bury Travel Shop on Saturday 29 March between 11am and 1pm. Representatives from First Manchester and Stagecoach Metrolink will be attending, along with officers from GMPTA and GMPTE. The event is the first of four to be held in Bury this year.

I am one of the two Bury Councillors on the GMPTA, and we want to hear more about people’s public transport experiences and any suggestions for improvements. When we held more formal meetings in Bury we had low attendance, but I’m sure these new surgeries will give us the chance to speak to a much broader range of passengers.

I’d encourage anyone with something to say about local public transport issues to come along on Saturday - and let us know how we can improve the services they use. Four surgeries a year will be held at bus stations, key transport interchanges, and other suitable locations in each of the ten Greater Manchester districts.

GMPTA also holds regular Greater Manchester-wide transport seminars. Its website - www.gmpta.gov.uk - is also being developed to allow online consultations and a dedicated ‘tell us about your local transport issues’ section.

This is the third pice of good news from the PTA for Bury this week, and a great example of the hard work local Lib Dem Councillors are doing on behalf of Bury.

Rick

Last night I attended a meeting of the Developing Communities sub-group of the Prestwich Local Area Partnership. There was lots on the agenda including updates on the progress of the Rainsough shops debate, the children’s centre, and other Prestwich regeneration projects. Of particular note are up-coming action to be taken as regards enforcement of dog fouling and littering. The local Lib Dems are on the war-path at the moment about both of these things, and it’s good to see that the Council are listening. So look out for some action in the coming months.

This morning I attended the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority meeting, where there was a lot of discussion of the roll-out of the new bus passes for the over 60s, and some frankly unfathomable reports on budgets which members around the table nodded sagely at whilst being spoken to by accountants talking soothingly.

On the way back from the meeting, perhaps as God’s gentle way of prodding me towards not giving up on reading complicated financial papers quite so easily, I managed to crash my car twice. Once into a wall whilst exiting the car park, and once into a lamppost whilst reversing into my space at work. They say bad things come in threes, so if you see me driving any time soon, best pull over to be on the safe side.

The Easter weekend kicks off in about four hours which will seem interminably long sat here at my desk. Blogging may or may not be sporadic during the long weekend. Obviously there will be more leafleting than I care for, as election time hurtles towards us. And on top of that, Tamsin goes away to Florida with her family for a fortnight, leaving me to live the life of a bachelor-king. So I may be being fed grapes by a lady somewhere, and have no time for the likes of this.

Probably not though, so I imagine I’ll be back tomorrow

Rick

For the second day running, your Lib Dem representatives on Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) have good news for local public transport users, and this time it’s of particular benefit to the most vulnerable people in the Borough.

A new door-to-door transport service for people with access and mobility difficulties is off to a flying start in Bury. GMPTA extended the popular Ring & Ride service at the end of January when it added nine new minibuses to provide extra trips across the conurbation.

In the first few months, 246 passengers journeys have been made from Bury on the new ‘cross boundary’ service into neighbouring districts. And 2,355 journeys have been made.

Ring & Ride makes a real difference to people who find it difficult to use ordinary public transport to get out and about. It has always been a very popular service for making trips in Bury but we’re always listening to users’ suggestions for improving it. We surveyed passengers and they said they would be prefer to keep on paying a fare rather than travelling for free - so long as we invested in this new cross boundary service.

So I am delighted to see so many people finding it useful. It is clearly giving Ring & Ride users in Bury a lot more choice about where they can travel.

Previously we could only offer local district based services but the new minibuses are allowing us to take people that bit farther afield into neighbouring areas. The investment has clearly been worthwhile and I’m glad to be able to offer such an improved service. I’d encourage anyone who might want to give Ring and Ride a go to call GMPTA and register to use the service.

Passengers must register their details before they travel by calling the Bury depot on 0161 764 1999.

The service currently runs from 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Journeys can be booked from seven days in advance up to one hour before travelling.

To book a journey on the cross boundary service call 0845 688 3989 (lines open between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday).

Fares are set at £2 for a single journey, and £1 for a single journey for GMPTE concessionary permit holders.

For more information on Ring & Ride visit www.ringandride.info http://www.ringandride.info

Great news for Bury!

Rick

This morning I did my overall sex-appeal no harm at all by attending the Transport Network Committee of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority.

A couple of items may be of particular note to Bury. First off there has been a decision to do away with the X35 bus service which operates more or less non-stop between Bury and Manchester. It isn’t well used, which is the reason for its withdrawal after a trial period, although I imagine that the people who do use it may be annoyed to find that their quick bus service has gone.

This annoyance will be compounded given that the “speedy” alternative to the X35 is to be herded onto a Metrolink tram. Metrolink was the other interesting item on the agenda today, in particular the problems with the ticket machines. No serious twenty-first century transport system has ticket machines which can’t take cards, and of which only about half purport to take notes. Even where machines are able to take notes in theory, I think if a single speck of dust or microscopic crease is found, the note is rejected.

Resultantly there are hundreds of complaints, and passengers forced to hobble around carrying enough change to weigh them down, and then insert it manically coin by coin as the tram nears.

The ticket machines are due to be replaced, but because of works I am struggling to fathom, this won’t be completed for another 18 months!

These ticketing problems, combined with the ongoing saga of getting real time information (technology available in London for many years now) makes me feel that once again the entire Metrolink experience makes us second class citizens to other cities who have managed to fund proper public transport without having to resort to government bribery and congestion taxing.

Rick

This morning I attended a meeting of the (deep breath) Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority Service Improvement Sub-Committee.

There were two main items – First off there was a report and actions list arising from a review of Integrated Social Needs Transport, which basically said that there needs to be more integration and joined up thinking between the GMPTA, Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts. It wasn’t a particularly good or bad report, and it painted a mixed picture. What is clear is that as a County we sometimes fail the most vulnerable when it comes to transport needs, and this needs to change. What is disappointing is that this particular committee only meets a couple of times a year and so our ability to scrutinise and keep tabs with the agenda is pretty limited, especially for members who have full time paid employment as well.

The second item on the agenda related to performance monitoring, and the rationalisation of performance indicators. There are some new indicators, some revisions, and a fair few things that were being monitored before and that no longer are. A couple of indicators surprised me:

On Metrolink, the punctuality indicator is no longer being measured because, we were told, the reliability indicator is more useful. I disagree wit this because as someone who wants a Met every 6 minutes as promised, I get hugely annoyed when I stand at a platform watching three go the other way and waiting 15 minutes for mine. The system is reliable and there are no breakdowns, but if I want to get into town at the desired time, it’s just not happening. One of the key problems with Metrolink (and there are many) is that the timetable simply isn’t stuck to. And it’s a real shame that it isn’t being monitored any more.

Another indicator which caused some confusion related to satisfaction. Previously, there were three separate indicators asking frequent users their opinions of trains, buses and trams. Now, there will just be one combined indicator reported, although the split will still be made lower down, and we’ll be able to tell should the inevitable Metrolink revolt occur. Last year’s combined figure for satisfaction was 92%, which seems pretty high. However the target going forward is only 91%! In other words, the PTA’s target is to reduce passenger satisfaction! I questioned this and was told that the 92% figure was “a halo effect” and something of an anomaly. But frankly I don’t care, and any target which sees us aiming to lower satisfaction is plainly ludicrous.

Rick

At this morning’s meeting of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA), Labour presented a motion praising the government;s extension of the concessionary fare scheme which gives OAPs free bus travel. Lib Dems wanted the motion to be less sycophantic and much more challenging to a government which has presided over bus fares for young people climbing rapidly. When the Lib Dems proposed an amendment calling for free bus travel for young people now, Labour voted it down.

I am happy that OAPs travel for free on buses. The more people who travel for free on public transport, the better. So why not young people as well? Young people have no access to private transport of their own (except through parents), and probably a lot less money than OAPs. They also have to travel to school each day, in Manchester that’s at 70p per journey. And lots of people in my ward have to get two buses to schools in Bury. That’s £1.40 each way, or £14.00 a week just getting to and from school. It isn’t right.

Of course it will cost money to make the journeys free. But if money can be found for white elephants like ID cards then it can be found for real schemes that will make a real difference, like this one.  Young people need to grow to love public transport if they’re going to carry on using it as adults. They don’t need to think that it’s expensive.

I join Labour in congratulating the government for their work in giving OAPs free travel. But serious governments don’t rest on their laurels and bask in praise. They keep progressing. That’s what we challenged Labour to do today by calling for an expansion of the scheme. Sadly, they said no, and so children continue to pay over the odds to get to school on the bus.

Rick

The past few days have been very busy, hence no blogging I’m afraid.

On Friday I attended the Transport Network committee of the passenger Transport Authority, where I raised a number of points about the state of Radcliffe Bus Station, and the fact that a shocking 66% of Metrolink trams have the wrong destination blind showing! I am hoping for comments and improvements soon.

Over the weekend there was lots of leafleting, as the new St Mary’s Focus hit the streets. If you live in the ward and haven’t got your’s yet, you will soon.

We have also started a new residents survey as a follow up to the party conference, which will be taking place this week. So if we knock on your front door during Eastenders, be assured that we will try to be brief!

The weather is absolutely foul though so that might be curtailed tonight anyway…

Rick

Apologies for quietness on the blogging front in recent days. Busyness is no excuse, but I am going to use it all the same.

On Wednesday night it was the inaugural meeting of the Local Area Partnership sub-group on Community Development. There were Council representatives from all three Prestwich wards, as well as from Bury Council, the Police, Salix Homes (Salford’s housing management company who manage the houses in Rainsough), and community activists. It was a good turnout and although I had to leave the meeting after an hour it was still enough time to hear about some exciting plans and ideas which will hopefully come to fruition in the months to come.

This morning I attended a meeting of the Passenger Transport Authority, where the big item on the agenda is the extension of the concessionary fare scheme from next spring. About 400,000 over-60s in Greater manchester will be applying for, and receiving, new passes in the next few months, starting in October. It’s a big task for the people managing the change, but we were assured that there’ll be plenty of communication and everything will run smoothly.

Rick