Mid Ulster Council strongly opposes Translink’s cost-saving proposals

In their response to the plans, council officers wrote: “Mid Ulster District Council is taking this opportunity to provide a response to Translink’s consultation on the Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) associated with the proposed amendments to Translink commercial discounted fares and purchase of singles-only onboard NIR services.

“From assessment of the impacts set out in the EQIA, it is clear that the proposed fare and discount scheme adjustments will significantly negatively impact a number of Section 75 groups across Northern Ireland.

“The EQIA also clearly demonstrates that the proposals will cause a negative impact across some of the most vulnerable groups in society.”

The officers response said: “As such, the council would like to make it clear its opposition to Translink’s proposals to implement a £10m reduction in services which will clearly disproportionately impact upon Section 75 impacts in the rural areas, including across Mid Ulster District Council area.

“Ultimately, the outcome will massively restrict travel options for young people, the elderly, people with disabilities and carers, particularly from low-income households.

“While families in general are negatively impacted upon by the increase in promotional fares, the complete removal of the off-peak day return fares on bus and rail for adults and children will disproportionality impact on single-parent families.

“The proposed cuts will also significantly impact rural areas in terms of accessibility and access to services.”

The officers’ report continued: “The council would like to ensure that full consideration is given to rural communities prior to decisions being taken or implemented.

“While the council recognises that the EQIA does set out mitigating measures, these measures will do little to avoid the financial implications and reduced accessibility for the individuals directly affected by these proposed measures.

“Overall, the potential implications of these proposals on individuals in a number of Section 75 categories will be significant. Therefore, the Council strongly oppose these proposed cuts and would encourage Translink to reconsider these proposals.”

The council officers’ response was proposed by Councillor Paul McLean (DUP, Magherafelt DEA) at the latest meeting of the council’s Policy & Resources committee meeting.

Seconding the proposal, Councillor Nuala McLernon (SF, Torrent DEA) commented that Mid Ulster is “a very rural constituency with limited service provision already in some areas, so seeing the impact of reduced service would most definitely have a negative impact”.

Concurring with the Torrent DEA representative, Councillor Frances Burton (DUP, Clogher Valley DEA) remarked: “I believe this puts community transport under more stress, and they’re already seeking people to drive cars in rural areas.

“In my area, we have one bus that comes at 8:00. It doesn’t come back until 5:00. So if they reduce that, it’ll not come at all. It is ridiculous that it’s ‘cut, cut, cut’.

“We talk about rural proofing, but I think they need to take a really serious look at that because we’re trying to encourage people to use public transport, and when it’s not there, how do we use it?” said Cllr Burton.

Councillor Dominic Molloy (SF, Dungannon DEA) remarked that commuters would be particularly penalised by any reduction in service provision.

“I know that one of the concerns that has been raised with me over the last number of weeks and months is the services along the motorway to Belfast from the park and rides, and particularly the Tamnamore Park and Ride, which serves a large part of our rural community travelling to and from Belfast,” he said.

“It has become apparent that when people are still waiting on travel, buses roll in full and there’s no alternative following behind with any seats [available].

“I know that one girl I spoke to recently had waited to travel to work in Belfast. She was over an hour late, and three buses had rolled into the park and ride at Tamnamore completely full and drove on again.

“I don’t know what the point of even calling at this stop was for, but that person was over an hour late.

“It was probably very disappointing whenever she turned up to work late, if she ever got there. So that’s one of the concerns that we have.”

Cllr Molloy continued: "Our more rural communities are really suffering in terms of the infrastructure that takes them to and from public transport.”

Still on the subject of public transport provision, committee chair, Councillor Seán McPeake (SF, Carntogher DEA) mentioned St. Brigid’s PS in Gulladuff, where the children were left with no school bus transport on their first day back at school.

Cllr McPeake commented: “I know in my own local school they were told on the afternoon of the bank holiday Monday that there would be no school transport for the children on the first day, and that’s really intolerable.

“On the first day back at school, the yellow EA (Education Authority) bus was taken off. They couldn’t get a driver.

“So, on the first day at school, some of them missed school, some of them got lifts, parents had to change work patterns and so on.

“Thankfully they got it sorted for the second day at school. But it just shows how these departments are working on a shoestring, with little or no backup resources, and it’s just an intolerable situation.”