Buses: ‘Put service out to tender now’

Tuesday 29th April 2008, 12:00AM BST.

KEEPING Connex buses running last year cost taxpayers £2 million more than in 2002, according to the group that used to run the Island’s bus services.

And ministers are being urged not to renew the Connex contract without going out to competitive tender to ensure that taxpayers do not pay too much.

The managing director of the group that owned previous operator Jersey Bus and Tantivy Blue Coach claims that it actually cost the exchequer over £4 million in subsidies last year to provide the scheduled and school bus services.

Chris Lewis, who heads the Diamond Group, said that the total level of subsidy paid to his firms in 2002 when their contract was terminated amounted to ฃ1.9 million.

Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.

View more: Bus Contract news.