Thursday 15 January 2015
Guernsey Press Enquiry:
I am writing for a comment on the future of the bus depot - would it be possible to have a comment from Environment on the following:
- Where do Environment envisage a bus depot would go?
- Is Environment considering a bus depot at all?
- Is Environment considering the proposal that a Peter Tilden-Smith made (in an email to the deputies) for a bus depot?
- How do Environment plan protect the new buses?
It would be great if you can please get back to me on this by 3pm today.
Environment Department Response:
A bus depot did not score highly enough in the States current round of capital prioritisation to be taken forward using that route. The Environment Department therefore included within the Tender pack the potential option to extend the contract beyond the initial term, provided the operator had met all the operating requirements and provided such a privately funded capital infrastructure investment was attractive to the States at that time. The period that the contract might be extended by would be based on the nature of the capital investment undertaken by the contractor and hence the payback period. As such there was no requirement or expectation within the initial contract that a bus depot would be procured by the States or would be provided by the operator.
There is no guarantee that this future option will be taken forward but if the operator is meeting all the requirements and providing a good bus service and willing to fund capital investment at a future date then this was a sensible option for which to make provision.
The location of the potential depot has not been confirmed but locating it on states owned land, close to main roads and in an industrial setting would be key criteria.
The proposal circulated to all Deputies simply concerned the form and supplier of an industrial metal unit of which there are no doubt several potential suppliers. It is premature to consider who might be the provider of any such structure and this in largely a minor consideration both logistically and cost wise when compared with securing the site, providing necessary drainage and hard standing including access roads, fuel pumps, wash facilities etc. In addition issues such as sound and visual screening, access and egress, security and visual and amenity impact all need to be addressed.
The purpose of the Bus depot is not to replace the old bus garage that used to be at Le Bouet thus keeping the buses under cover at night but rather to provide a facility at which the buses can be fuelled, serviced, cleaned and maintained and at which the administrative operations including drivers canteen and changing area etc can be provided. It is envisaged that even if such a facility was available the buses would still be parked outside over night but on hard standings that were part and parcel of the bus operations.
In the absence of such a facility the new buses will be maintained serviced cleaned and parked up etc in the same way the current fleet is.
Contact Information:
Steve Smith, Chief Officer
Environment Department
Tel: 717200
