The economic crisis that we as a nation are facing since the Tories crashed the economy is getting worse by the day. As their disastrous 12 year reign turned into an imploding catastrophe.
Lets not forget Prime Minster Truss forcing a run on the £, Pension Funds close to collapse, Mortgages exploding upwards forcing increased costs on already overstretched household budgets.
Now everyone has a ‘Cost of Living Crisis’ and a fear of using energy. With a £50 billion black hole still gaping in the nations budget, and yet another financial budget looming within days.
All this feeds into everyday life in our City and in our region.
Expect some shocks Wednesfield and Wolverhampton. Bus services are already wobbling with lack of drivers, National Express have already told me that”You may be aware that there is currently a national shortage of bus drivers at the moment. We are around 7% down on the numbers of drivers we usually need to be able to fulfil our services”.
Statistics are showing that around 80% of passengers have returned to buses and are travelling now by public transport. Prior to what was the situation before the Covid- Pandemic.
Less people , shopping ,with less money in their purse, bus services failing to arrive at scheduled times. trains suffering the same acute staff crisis, tram, train and bus staff, concerned that their wages are not keeping up with inflation.
Bus service cuts are on the horizon, in Wolverhampton and across the West Midlands, school bus services will not escape, and the broader network services cuts will also happen.
When the next budget gets announced by the Tories, financial institutions are expecting further cuts to Local Government support for Council services, That will kick off another round of financial concerns.
I want to keep residents in Wednesfield and Wolverhampton informed of the situation. Yesterday I took part in a briefing from Transport for West Midlands. TfWM were setting the scene for their round of talks with the private bus operators. Most at risk are it appears at the moment, here in our City of being axed is School Bus Services. But there will be also routes-small but vital bus routes, that link suburbs with key shopping districts and employment opportunity, and institutions like doctors, and hospitals. Bus routes with no big flows of passengers. like the 50 bus service – It will routes like these which will be certainly under the microscope. With bus schedules also on the agenda to be trimmed.
I will aim to keep readers in touch with these issues, as the information unfolds.
