Nottingham bus firm calls proposed cuts a 'grave' step backwards

A transport boss says plans to shut two park and ride sites and turn off live information signs would be a "grave" step backwards for services.

David Astill, managing director of Nottingham City Transport (NCT), said the cuts would be "disappointing".

Nottingham City Council is looking to make cuts to fill a £53m hole in its budget for the year beginning April 2024.

A consultation on the proposed service reductions ended on 16 January.

The Labour-run council has already been working to close a £23m gap this year, which resulted in it declaring effective bankruptcy in November.

On top of plans to slash 554 jobs and close some youth centres, the council has also proposed to withdraw funding for Medilink services, reduce Linkbus services to minimum levels, close the Queens Drive and Racecourse park and ride sites and turn off real-time information at bus stops.

While bus operator NCT was established as an arms-length city council company in 1986 and is therefore independent of the issues the authority is facing, it says it is still reeling from the impact of the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported.

In the year ending 2023, the company reported a near £1m loss in its management accounts, which excludes government support.

Its losses now sit between £500,000 and £1m, Mr Astill said.

But the company said there was "cautious optimism", adding passenger levels had returned to about 90% of pre-pandemic levels.

Mr Astill said: "Yes they [the council] are in difficulties, but we are independent of that.

"It only affects us if they do things like turn off the real-time system, which is one of the things on their list of savings, or if they shut park and ride sites.

"Queens Drive has been well-used both for people coming into the city and for people going, crucially, to the Queen's Medical Centre.

"Obviously it will mean Queens Drive would cease to be used as a park and ride, which would be disappointing and a retrograde step, but they have got a financial crisis and we have got to respect they have got to make some difficult decisions.

"We know from all our research the real-time gives our customers enhanced confidence because it gives you confidence the bus is coming.

"It would be a grave retrograde step if that was turned off."

Councillor Angela Kandola, the city council's portfolio holder for transport, said: "In Nottingham we're proud of our public transport network and we don't want to see real-time signs switched off or park and ride sites close, but everything has to be on the table as part of this budget process.

"We have reviewed all the feedback and are currently investigating alternative funding options to see if we can retain key aspects of our public transport network."

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