Free month’s membership for BCA

Membership subscriptions for the Bus and Coach Association (BCA) trade body were originally due for 1 March 2015, but have been moved back to 1 April to give current associates a month’s free membership. The reason behind this is that the body expects to make a very important announcement towards the end of March when it anticipates a decision from the European Commission.

Announcing the move, BCA founder, Martin Allen also commented on the declaration made by the Labour Shadow Transport Secretary, Michael Dugher MP, for a bigger role for the not-for-profit sector and his wishes to break the dominance of the big five. Martin said, ‘Mr Dugher is obviously totally unaware of the European Commission investigation taking place regarding the CT sector. Mr Dugher seems not to know that it is local authorities that are cutting funding and services and not the operators. This announcement has obviously caused a speedy response by other trade bodies and the big bus operators. Organisations have let the CT sector evolve into what it is today and now it’s brought the reality home what could potentially happen if the CT sector was left to evolve further.’

‘I have contacted the Commission regarding the new guidance that has been published. They acknowledge that the CT sector are carrying out a public service obligation; the rules of the permit do not allow the CT sector to operate a public obligation, a total separation of accounts should take place and no asset of the funded CT operator can be used in a commercial activity. We are awaiting a response from the Commission on this issue.’