Merseyside changes deficit to surplus
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AN OPERATING surplus of £241,000 during 1973, announced by the Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority and Executive in its annual report and statement of accounts for the year ended December 31, 1973, ontrasted sharply with an Dperating deficit of £243,000 For the previous 12 months.
H owever, the agreement ;ompleted in January 1972 letween Ribble Motor ;ervices Ltd and Crosville otor Services Ltd in which he PTE pays all the costs Ind collects all the revenue -esulted in a net deficit for
• he Executive of £1,175,000.
This deficit took no sccount of the revenue arisng from the use of Eravellers Tickets and Bus Economy Tickets nor had :here been any allocation of :he precept from con;essionary travel on National Bus Company travel. Such adjustment could bring a substantial reduction in the deficit, says the report.
Precept income was £5,105,208, of which just over £2m was in respect of concessionary travel for oldage pensioners, the blind and disabled.
The report shows that a study undertaken by Salford University has revealed that the fuel situation would result in a major swing from private cars to public transport but that the bus and rail service in the Authority's area would be equal to the task, with certain adjustments.
A firm of consultants has been engaged to improve the bus service in certain parts of Liverpool; Cranfield Institute of Technology is studying the future need for cross
river routes over the Mersey; the pedestrianization of Church Street and Lord Street is being examined: and a project has been initiated to assess the needs of those areas of the conurbation without good access to railways after doubts had been expressed that buses could provide suitable rapid transit services.