That was the week

A Saturday look back on some of the stories of the last week or so from Plymouth and beyond that have some sort of Plymothian Transit link, or just caught my attention in some way.

Moor Money? A £4.5m funding bid is being submitted to the government to get better public transport on Dartmoor and Exmoor. The partnership behind the scheme said the money would pay for an improved bus and rail service. If the bid is successful, it wants to introduce more rail services on the Exeter to Okehampton line and the West Somerset Railway along the Exmoor coast. BBC Devon Fighting Fare More than 7,600 people have signed Norfolk County Council’s Fair Fares petition, which calls for the government to properly cover the cost of reimbursing bus companies for ferrying bus pass holders around. And the campaign is gathering traction, with Devon County Council officially joining the campaign and two other councils, in the north and south east of the country, indicating they are keen to follow suit. EDP Cheeky Ticket Cheats GRAMMAR school children could be stripped of their bus passes in a "clampdown" on cheeky ticket cheats. Plymouth Citybus is launching on-board checks amid a spike in what it has labelled "ticket fraud" on school services. This is Plymouth

Go Ahead Satisfaction Research carried out by Passenger Focus across the Go-Ahead Group’s bus operations outside London has revealed 91 per cent overall passenger satisfaction. The highest figures were at Konectbus in East Anglia (97 per cent) and Bluestar in Hampshire (94 per cent). The lowest score of 90 per cent was recorded at Brighton & Hove, Plymouth Citybus and Wilts & Dorset Bus & Coach Poppy Appeal Plymouth Citybus has pledged its support to the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal by putting more than 150 extra large poppies on the front of the buses. This is Plymouth East End soon to Open One of Plymouth’s biggest ever transport improvement schemes is due to open on Tuesday 1 November. The East End Transport Scheme, which has been 18 months in the making, will completely change how people travel into and around this part of the city. Plymouth City Council

That was the week

A Saturday look back on some of the stories of the last week from Plymouth and beyond that have some sort of Plymothian Transit link, or just caught my attention in some way.

Unhappy Passenger A PLYMOUTH mother is angry that her daughter had to walk home from school – because a bus driver turned her away. Citybus said the reason for Nicola's card not working on September 16 was because the driver hadn't scrolled the ticket machine to the correct bus stop. The ticket machine therefore appeared to be in the wrong zone for the pass, Peter Oliver, commercial manager for Plymouth Citybus, said. 7 October 2011 This is Plymouth Week of Walkies Fascinating facts and fabulous views with every footstep are on offer during a week-long series of events bringing city and countryside together. People of all ages and fitness are being invited to head up the Tamar Valley as part of a festival devoted to putting one foot in front of the other. The Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is hosting a trail festival and the Plymouth City Council’s Stepping Stones to Nature team has organised a walk along the Discovery trail. The seven kilometre free guided walk starts at Tamerton Foliot, taking in open farmland, woodland, the banks of the River Tavy and Lopwell Dam. To put a spring in people’s step, the walk finishes with a cream tea in Bere Ferrers. 12 October 2011 Plymouth City Council

Tamar Bridge Works to finish early Resurfacing work on the Tamar Bridge, which has delayed thousands of motorists travelling between Devon and Cornwall, is to finish early. 13 October 2011 BBC 1 in 5 council bus service cut We have been busy collecting data on local authority bus cut decisions, using the Freedom of Information Act, and we can reveal that council cuts to bus budgets totalling £36m have resulted in more than 1000 (1114) service cuts. Many more bus services are likely to be lost as two thirds (77%) of local transport authorities in England are either planning to, or could not rule out, further cuts in the future. Only 46 councils put a figure on the number of bus services that had been reduced, and only 20 reported how many passenger journeys will be affected. 13 October 2011 Campaign Better Transport   And finally… Tough economic times mean some transport company bosses are now cleaning their own offices, it has been revealed. As many as 55% of transport business owners frequently take on cleaning duties around the office, a survey by the Bibby Financial Services company found. 9 October 2011 UK Press

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Pending That was the week

A Saturday look back on some of the stories of the last week from Plymouth and beyond that have some sort of Plymothian Transit link, or just caught my attention in some way.

Embankment Link soon to open From Tuesday 1 November there will be a completely new way of travelling through and around the East End of Plymouth, as the new Embankment Lane link road and the new outbound lane on Gdynia Way are opened to traffic. This marks the completion of the main elements of the East End Transport Scheme, which has been under construction for 18 months by Plymouth Transport and Highways, the partnership between Plymouth City Council and Amey. Plymouth Citycouncil True Grit SHOPPERS say Plymouth City Council "cannot be criticised" for organising a winter gritting roadshow – despite hosting it on a blissfully balmy weekend. The authority's winter maintenance services team hosted the roadshow on Saturday encouraging shoppers to "think about their own property, area and travel needs in extreme weather". Councillor Kevin Wigens, Plymouth City Council's cabinet member for transport, told The Herald last week: "Keeping the road network clear and moving is essential to Plymouth's people and economy – and we are as prepared as we can be." 3 October This is Plymouth

Slow down on the buses Britain's biggest bus operator - which runs one in every five local services including swathes of London's services - today warned it expects passenger numbers to fall in the next six months as local economies suffer. The company warned today that the trading conditions in its UK buses business would worsen as the lower economic activity makes its impact on the UK. 29 September 2011 This is London Bus Competition Commission Proposals to open up the bus market to more competition have been published by the Competition Commission. It is calling for more schemes where tickets can be used on more than one operator's service. It also wants to restrict bus operators from changing the frequency of services to discourage "over-bussing". 6 October 2011 BBC Saltash Ferry Celebration It's almost 50 years since the ferry between Saltash Passage and Saltash ceased. To celebrate this, ferry trips will run again for one day only on Sunday 23rd October 2011 6 September 2011 Plymouth Local History

That was the week

A Saturday look back on some of the stories of the last week from Plymouth and beyond that have some sort of Plymothian Transit link, or just caught my attention in some way.

Winter is coming A south west council will be putting its gritters on standby from Saturday, despite the unusually hot weather. Plymouth City Council said that because of damage caused by the last two harsh winters, its seven gritters will be on standby for the next six months to keep the city's main roads open. 29 September 2011 BBC East End Traffic Diversions Road resurfacing will be taking place across Plymouth’s East End from Monday 26 September for two weeks.  This means there will be traffic diversions in place so that the work can be carried out quickly and safely. These works can only take place in dry conditions which means the resurfacing schedule will be subject to change. All works will take place overnight to minimise disruption. The current programme schedule includes sections of the following roads on the following dates: Embankment Road, Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 September Laira Bridge Road and Embankment Road, Wednesday 28 September to Saturday 1 October Laira Bridge Road,  Monday 3 to Friday 7 October Laira Bridge Road and Gdynia Way, Friday 7 to Tuesday 11 October 23 September Plymouth City Council Dont Knock it KNOCKING down the Civic Centre in Plymouth would take the heart out of the city, says the boss of English Heritage. Baroness Andrews, chair of the organisation which stopped the city council demolishing the 1960s building, was speaking in advance of a visit to the city next week. 30 September 2011 This is Plymouth

National Trust Plymbridge Parking PARKING proposals outlined by The National Trust for its controversial Plymbridge Woods project have sparked anger among objectors. The organisation has submitted a series of amendments to its two planning applications for the beauty spot, detailing parking proposals among other items. 27 September 2011 This is Plymouth Sherford start? THE much-delayed plan to build a new town to the east of Plymouth could go ahead next year. The project, for a community with 5,500 homes, along with schools, shops and other facilities, was given the go-ahead in 2007.The complex development for Sherford Valley south of the A38, involves three councils: Plymouth, where 320 of the homes and a sports hub will be sited; South Hams District Council; and Devon County Council. 27 September 2011 This is Plymouth On Board Information for Citybus SCREENS installed on Citybus buses are providing passengers with a range of information. To date 10 buses belonging to Plymouth Citybus have been fitted with the latest on-board information screens as part of a partnership with Plymouth based Blue Lollipop Media Ltd. 29 September 2011 This is Plymouth And finally… Sunderland to London King's Cross in 6 minutes (at 2660 mph!)

That was the week

A Saturday look back on some of the stories of the last week from Plymouth and beyond that have some sort of Plymothian Transit link, or just caught my attention in some way.
WHOOPS - THE ORIGINAL POST HAS BEEN ACCIDENTALLY OVERWRITTEN BY THIS ONE FROM 1ST OCTOBER.

Winter is coming A south west council will be putting its gritters on standby from Saturday, despite the unusually hot weather. Plymouth City Council said that because of damage caused by the last two harsh winters, its seven gritters will be on standby for the next six months to keep the city's main roads open. 29 September 2011 BBC East End Traffic Diversions Road resurfacing will be taking place across Plymouth’s East End from Monday 26 September for two weeks.  This means there will be traffic diversions in place so that the work can be carried out quickly and safely. These works can only take place in dry conditions which means the resurfacing schedule will be subject to change. All works will take place overnight to minimise disruption. The current programme schedule includes sections of the following roads on the following dates: Embankment Road, Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 September Laira Bridge Road and Embankment Road, Wednesday 28 September to Saturday 1 October Laira Bridge Road,  Monday 3 to Friday 7 October Laira Bridge Road and Gdynia Way, Friday 7 to Tuesday 11 October 23 September Plymouth City Council Dont Knock it KNOCKING down the Civic Centre in Plymouth would take the heart out of the city, says the boss of English Heritage. Baroness Andrews, chair of the organisation which stopped the city council demolishing the 1960s building, was speaking in advance of a visit to the city next week. 30 September 2011 This is Plymouth

National Trust Plymbridge Parking PARKING proposals outlined by The National Trust for its controversial Plymbridge Woods project have sparked anger among objectors. The organisation has submitted a series of amendments to its two planning applications for the beauty spot, detailing parking proposals among other items. 27 September 2011 This is Plymouth Sherford start? THE much-delayed plan to build a new town to the east of Plymouth could go ahead next year. The project, for a community with 5,500 homes, along with schools, shops and other facilities, was given the go-ahead in 2007.The complex development for Sherford Valley south of the A38, involves three councils: Plymouth, where 320 of the homes and a sports hub will be sited; South Hams District Council; and Devon County Council. 27 September 2011 This is Plymouth On Board Information for Citybus SCREENS installed on Citybus buses are providing passengers with a range of information. To date 10 buses belonging to Plymouth Citybus have been fitted with the latest on-board information screens as part of a partnership with Plymouth based Blue Lollipop Media Ltd. 29 September 2011 This is Plymouth And finally… Sunderland to London King's Cross in 6 minutes (at 2660 mph!)