Page 4 - link magazine

Community News

All change at Thamesdown Transport

Thamesdown Transport Limited
has been taken over by the major
commercial bus operator Go South
Coast after councillors agreed to
sell the council’s shares in the
company.
The bus company has incurred
losses over the past five years due
to difficult trading conditions,
despite continued financial support
from the council. And with the
council also facing financial
pressures of its own, a review of the
bus company concluded that the
sale would be in the best interest
of council taxpayers, staff and its
customers.
Go South Coast’s bid was assessed
as offering the best value to the Thamesdown general manager Alex Chutter
council. The terms of the offer
are commercially confidential but Thamesdown Transport as we have full review of how the company and taking steps like removing the
included all the council’s shares been doing in recent years. operates and what improvements assault screen at the town centre
and the freehold of Thamesdown’s “We believe this deal is in need to be made is underway. The ticket office and improving the
Barnfield depot. the best interests of local bus directors may have changed, but customer approach are key moving
Cllr David Renard, Leader of users as it secures the financial at the moment it’s simply a case of forward.”
Swindon Borough Council, said: sustainability of the bus company, steadying this ship. • The deadline for feedback
“We were one of the few local offers the best long-term security “We will be looking at things like submissions on the proposed
authorities in the country to still for Thamesdown employees, and the exact fare policy and passenger Wichelstowe to town centre
own a local bus company, but the will provide vital investment. forums to gather feedback. Our aim bus corridor is 22 March.
council is operating in a really Alex Chutter, formerly operations is to make Thamesdown the bus To view the plans and
challenging financial climate at the manager at Go South Coast’s company of choice for Swindon. share your thoughts visit:
moment and we do not have the Salisbury Reds and now general Within the Go Ahead group, local swindontravelchoices.co.uk/
resources to continue to support manager at Thamesdown said: “A knowledge and management is key, projects/wichelstowe

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4 swindonlink.com n March 2017

SE March 2017 Master Pages.indd 4 16/02/2017 15:53