Bus fare increase probe

AN MP will try to persuade transport bosses to use new powers to take control of Greater Manchester’s buses tomorrow.

Graham Stringer has launched the bid after Oldham-based bus giant First put up fares by 8 per cent, despite falling fuel prices.

The Blackley MP, who is a senior member of the Commons Transport Committee, will use a meeting between local MPs and leaders of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) to demand that they use the new powers to set the fares.

Mr Stringer, a long-time opponent of bus deregulation introduced by Margaret Thatcher more than 20 years ago, has put down a Commons motion calling on First to rethink the increases.

His supporters include Labour colleagues Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton), Brian Iddon (Bolton South East) and Lib-Dem Paul Rowen (Rochdale).

Mr Stringer said: “They put fares up when fuel went up last summer even though they had hedged against fuel increases. Now fuel is going down, they have put fares up again.

“They are using their virtual monopoly to exploit the travelling public.

“I will be demanding that the start of Plan B (after the Transport Innovation Fund referendum was lost) must be to start consulting on re-regulating the buses.”

Andrew Scholey, managing director for First in Manchester, said: “First in Manchester is facing a 10 per cent rise to its business costs in 2009 in areas such as fuel, utilities and staff costs and therefore, regrettably, we had to raise our fares from January 2.

“We appreciate nobody likes it when prices go up but we have worked hard to keep any increases to a minimum by introducing savings within our business to off-set these cost increases.”