"Paul" Paul @whydoyoucare.co.uk wrote in message
...

"Bob" wrote in message
ps.com...
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/local...682621,00.html

The Guardian article indicates that local government reform may be on
the way in the form of City Regions. It sounds like deja vu all over
again for Greater Manchester although local politicians have
reservations about a directly elected mayor like London's "Red Ken" -
although the colour seems to have faded.Whilst not going along with
many of his views I have always been impressed with the way he has
through, Transport for London, been an innovative force - driving
forward the Docklands Light Railway,the East London Line extension, the
congestion charge ( particularly putting the surpluses back into
transport infrastructure.) and a sensible system for regulating the
buses. Outside of London the eight major city regions are generally
groaning with congestion on a crumbly infrastructure so perhaps relief
might be in sight.
But now I wonder - is there a catch?


Yep. who is going to pay for it all? Peter Hendy has pointed out he has
only been able to reform London Bus services the way he has because of the
amount of cash they have received from the treasury. Can you see the PTE's
getting the same sort of funding?
You beat me to it. The system in London has led to a reduction in the
quality, particularly of buses, in many other parts of the UK due to the big
groups targeting their investment to win TfL contracts which are lucrative
to them (and expensive to the taxpayer), and cascading older, kna****ed
buses elsewhere.

Sean