Questions over bus bids (From Witney Gazette)

Questions over bus bids

10:00am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Letters

Sir – The news that RH Transport has gone into administration, with the loss of 70 jobs, is very sad, particularly as it is a Witney-based company that has gone to the wall.

I do wonder if the tendering process by Oxfordshire County Council was at fault.

When the tenders were awarded in 2010, RH took a number of routes from Stagecoach.

Did the council properly assess the sustainability of the bid or were they simply looking for the cheapest option?

Can the council confirm how much extra money they have had to pay to get other bus companies in the town to take the routes and school runs at short notice?

It all sounds very similar to the situation with the West Coast rail franchise, which has cost the taxpayer considerably more.

Jane Johnson, Corndell Gardens, Witney