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Demand to stop 'extortionate' bus fares in Nuneaton and Bedworth

PostPosted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 2:29 am
by dutchman
They want access to a travel pass which is 'cheaper and better' for residents

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Demands are being made to put the brakes on 'extortionate' bus fare prices across Nuneaton and Bedworth - and get onboard travel passes used in neighbouring Coventry.

Fuming councillors say that residents in the borough should be able to benefit from the travel passes that are used by people in Coventry and the wider West Midlands.

They say that the passes, offered under the West Midlands Transport Authority, offer cheaper and better bus services than the ones currently offered across the two towns.

The price of a ticket from Bedworth to Nuneaton and back is £8.20, yet the day rider ticket for Coventry is £3.90, which can be used several times a day.

Councillor John Glass asked an initial question if council leader, Cllr Julie Jackson, could use her position on the West Midlands Combined Authority and also write to the leader of Warwickshire County Council to ask for her support for an enhanced West Midlands travel pass to provide a 'cheap and seamless' travel card for all in the combined authority.

Cllr Jackson said: "I am more than happy to write to the leader of Warwickshire County Council to ask that she argue for am extension to the West Midlands travel pass that would benefit the people of Nuneaton and Bedworth.

"Why do we see such price differences?

"Is is not right and we here, in our borough, deserve exactly the same."

Cllr Keith Kondakor said: "I am really keen on this motion, it is a really good idea to get us integrated on the West Midlands travel cards and tickets.

"The whole system is just crazy, we need to be in the same travel zones as the West Midlands, it is really important we do so because Stagecoach in particular rip people off and at the moment it is cheaper to go from Bedworth to Coventry as there is competition, and it is cheaper to go from Nuneaton to Leicester. It is cheaper for me to go shopping in Leicester than it is to go to Bedworth."

A row then ensued as the time allotted for members' questions had finished and the Tories asked for the time to be extended but it was lost.

It was decided a vote could be taken on the motion even though the 45 minutes for member's question had passed.

The motion had 17 in favour, 16 abstentions and Cllr Hayden Walmsley refused to vote in protest to the fact it had been taken outside of the allotted time.

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