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Public inquiry over bus wars (with videos)



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Published Date:
05 December 2007
A public inquiry is to be launched into the way transport giant Stagecoach has behaved during Preston's bus wars.
The probe by North West Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell will "look into its conduct as an operator."

But today Stagecoach said it was angry about the action being taken against it.

The announcement was made by transport minister Rosie Winterton in Parliament on Tuesday, raising the temperature of a dispute which has raged between Stagecoach and Preston Bus since May.

A spokesman for the traffic commissioner said she had decided to call the inquiry after "weighing up what she has been told" and deciding she "needs to air it in public and get to the bottom of the situation once and for all."

Stagecoach will be forced to publicly defend itself against accusations that it is attempting to run rival firm Preston Bus off the road.

Representatives from the national firm will be questioned and the inquiry is due to hear evidence regarding Stagecoach's behaviour.

It is also likely that Preston Bus employees will be called to give evidence.

If the traffic commissioner sees fit she can either reprimand, fine or have the ultimate power to take away Stagecoach's licence to operate services.

A preliminary hearing will be held on December 18 and will set out the timetable for the inquiry. The full inquiry will be held in February and no venue has yet been set.

A Stagecoach spokesman said: "We are angry about the untrue allegations that have been made about our business and we will be making a robust defence of our position at the public inquiry."

>> Bus wars rivals get it on tape (with videos)

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Traffic & travel

The full article contains 290 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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  • Last Updated: 06 December 2007 8:27 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Preston
 
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David C,

05/12/2007 11:57:35
All I can say is About time. This is not just a Preston Issue and Stagecoach should be made to answer for the way it handled Manchester, Cambridgeshire, Lancaster etc. Whilst I hate to see the National operator taken off the road, I would like to see it removed off Preston's estate's. I heard that the Buses now only run up to 7 pm and 16 Service has been terminated, I gather the cheer picking is didn't go to well on that service. I want The Commisioner to Look into Preston Bus as well, why are they not covering the Preston Post Code area I think its about time they did. They are a City service now and need to act as a City service, running Buses to the right area's.
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David C,

05/12/2007 11:58:34
cherry*
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Johnr,

Preston 05/12/2007 20:35:37
Yes, I agree David. Preston Bus should run services north and south of the river now as a matter of course. Stagecoach, good intertown operator but rip off merchants on the lucrative urban routes. My vote goes to Preston Bus, the peoples carrier ;o)
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Proud Prestonian,

Preston 05/12/2007 20:41:13
One way to help remove the bullies- don't use em! Im from Preston and I support Preston Bus
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Johnr,

Preston 05/12/2007 23:32:02
I am from preston too, born and bred :o). I love this great city. David, I know you are a stalwart Prestonian too and that you have our beloved city embedded deep in your heart. I vaguely recall you saying that you live away from Preston these days, whereabouts are you?
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johnh,

westhoughton 06/12/2007 03:21:09
so it looks like stagecoach are going to have to answer some questions about their stupid antics around preston,,its about time,and if the punishment means losing their licence to operate from preston,,then prestonbus will have to prepare in covering the routes south of the city and possibly to bolton and wigan of which are operated from stagecoach,s preston depot,,,its about time stagecoach had it coming to them
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ed55,

preston 06/12/2007 07:53:56
if all the allegations are true, then stagecoach deserve all they get. but beware, stagecoach have got some powerful briefs and are not going to go down without a fight, and so if the allegations cannot be proved, this may well backfire on preston bus. we will have to wait and see.
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holly123,

preston 06/12/2007 09:33:50
David C, as you say preston bus need to act as a city service. i think you will find that in every city, buses run well into the night, especially with a big university in the centre. so although it maybe against the employee owned drivers principles, a much later last bus system is needed instead of the 11pm last bus they have enjoyed for many years. i am willing to bet that the management at preston bus would also like this to happen, but do not want to upset the EMPLOYEE OWNED DRIVERS. well if stagecoach do lose their licence, i think the traffic commissioner should impose this. also ed55 i don't think anyone at preston bus, or whoever else is involved would make any accusations they cannot prove, but if they have then like you say they should also be worried.
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Dave1964,

Preston 06/12/2007 13:56:54
Quite right holly, Preston Bus do need to change and yes there would be conflict if those changes were suggested but We do need to provide a quality bus service for the public,thats why talks are now ongoing regarding a Boxing Day service, however these talks are in their infancy but im sure things will work out.
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Dave1964,

Preston 06/12/2007 14:09:35
Holly you say that PB drivers have enjoyed only working till 11pm.....well i dont anyone actually enjoys working till 11pm,but drivers dont set their own hours. Do you work till11pm? Also if PB drivers have enjoyed working till 11pm then if you operate a stagecoach service 11 then you should be ecstatic because you finish at 9.30pm
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