DIAMOND Buses have been issued with a final warning: Improve your services – or lose your licence.
At County Hall yesterday (Thursday) the borough’s Labour Party councillors received unanimous support when they called for cross party agreement on an ultimatum for the hapless bus company.
The motion, raised by Coun Robin Lunn (Redditch North) and seconded by Graham Vickery (Redditch North) called on Coun John Smith (Cons, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways) to meet Diamond Buses and make it clear if there is no immediate improvement then he will seek to have their licence revoked.
Coun Lunn said he was delighted with the vote, particularly as it received full support from all members.
During his speech to council, Coun Lunn held aloft a copy of your Redditch Standard and referred to the various incidents reported in recent weeks, drawing particular attention to ten-year-old Paige Sherriff who was left stranded alone in Winyates.
He added: “We simply want Diamond to provide an acceptable service. We do not want to get rid of them but this is their final warning.
“If things do not change I do not think they will be around much longer.”
The request comes after an deluge of complaints regarding the quality and standard of Diamond bus services across the county since September.
Speaking before the meeting, Worcestershire County Council Labour leader Peter McDonald (Rubery, North Ward), said the bus service was so poor the time had come to give Diamond a final warning.
“They cannot go on using old buses that really are not fit for purpose and leave people stranded,” he said. “If they cannot supply a decent service then let another company in to do so.
“Bus passengers throughout the county tell stories of buses setting alight, drivers not knowing where to go and buses just not turning up.
“Something must be done as a great number of people rely on buses as part of their daily lives.”
One new vehicle is due to arrive in Redditch later this month with the remaining seven buses coming in February.
Coun Smith said: “I and my colleagues support this motion. I have met with senior managers from Diamond to express our serious concerns about their service.
“An active plan has been set up for them and they have until the end of February to make things right.”
