Stagecoach’s £132 million KCC funding.
Since the 1st April 2010 to the 31st March 2018, Stagecoach, the local bus company which serves much of East Kent and Folkestone & Hythe District have received £131.8 million from Kent County Council according to KCC’s invoices over £250 data
The payments cover concessionary fares, freedom passes, public transport and admissions and transport.
We know that Stagecoach have shrunk the amount of routes they are providing, however, the payments they have received remain reasonably stable over the last three financial years, as the graph above demonstrates.
There has been a public outcry by local members of the public across our wonderful district. Both the Herald and the Express have run stories giving voice to the people and their anger and anxiety. However little has been said about Stagecoach directly.
The two executive directors of Stagecoach are: Chief Executive Martin Griffiths (pictured below left) and Financial Director Ross Patterson (pictured right)
As you can see their respective Director’s remuneration in 2016/17 totals were:
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Martin Griffiths £1.3 million
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Ross Patterson £811,000
If you’d like to contact either of these gentlemen to ask them why they have reduced and axed certain services across our district they can be contacted at (please be polite):
martin.griffiths@stagecoachgroup.com
ross.patterson@stagecoachgroup.com
For those of you who are unaware Kent County Council (KCC) are undertaking a consultation regarding Rural Bus Services; which runs between 13th June and the 8th August. KCC, we urge you all to fill in the questionnaire, or attend the St Mary’s Bay Village Hall, Romney Marsh, Thursday, July 12 between 7pm and 9pm .
KCC state on their website:
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Against a backdrop of ever decreasing funding for local councils KCC want to maintain, and where possible, improve accessibility for those without an alternative means of travel in rural areas. This will help tackle social isolation and provide the right transport solution for the right customer need, at the right price.
Why is it ALWAYS the Shepwayvox Team which gives us the financial angle. The bloody local newspapers are rubbish, if SV can do it why can’t they. Anyway, I’ll be isolated even more now, so have dropped both Martin and Ross an email. Keep up the good work.
So instead of KCC cuts – Stagecoach cut services or improve services depending on your perspective… For example someone living in Martello Lakes near Hythe gets a new bus service and people in Lydd get stuffed up.
Or are we about experience Nasty Party cuts as well?
Time will tell…