Sir, – The astonishing news from Surrey County Council, as detailed recently, that their bus subsidy is overspent to the tune of £1.3 million for the current financial year just beggar's belief. How no monitoring or assessment of current costs and situations was ever done is amazing, not only to those working in local government or represent any other authorities, but also I believe in the vast body of council tax payers in Surrey.
As I understand it at the moment, and things are still evolving, something like £0.8 million has to be found in the budget by September 29 of the current financial year. As it is six months before the end of the financial year 2003/04, it will effectively mean a £1.6 million reduction in the subsidy of services on a pro rata basis.
I believe that Surrey are proposing a complete reduction of evening and Sunday services as soon and as quickly as they can terminate contracts but will leave cross-border quality bus partnerships in place which means service 20 from Aldershot to Guildford and service 1 from Aldershot to Camberley will remain in place.
The services, which operate between the Aldershot/Farnham corridor and beyond – services 17, 18, and 19 – have an uncertain future on evenings and Sundays.
This is quite an astonishing situation to be in and people can rest assured that all parts of Hampshire will be taking whatever actions are needed to sort out the situation and its possible effect on bus services within the Blackwater Valley area.
As I indicated, the full repercussions of these matters are still to be clarified and more will come forward soon.
Mike Roberts, Environment Spokesperson, Hampshire County Labour Group, Cargate Avenue, Aldershot