Merseytravel in crisis: Lib Dem calls for transport authority to be disbanded
THE CRISIS engulfing the political leadership of the chairman of Merseytravel Mark Dowd shows no sign of subsiding tonight.
Senior Wirral Liberal Democrat Stuart Kelly has now waded in and says the situation is evidence that the troubled transport authority should be disbanded.
Rarely has a political crisis on Merseyside been played out in the public eye like this, with senior members of the main three parties lining up to take a shot at the Labour chairman of Merseytravel Mark Dowd.
Here is what Cllr Kelly has to say:
"Whilst the big Labour personalities slug it out over who reaps the spoils of controlling Merseyside's transport authority, including the possible £24k reward of being its Chairperson, the rest of us look on in disbelief.
"Whilst scandal and investigation appear to be rocking the transport authority, here on Wirral we are clearly the poor relations; silence from Wirral's Labour rulers and no word either from Wirral's Labour appointees to the lucrative Merseytravel joint board.
"Wirral's priorities once again take second place to the macho politics of the city and its environs, and now that all the Merseyside authorities are Labour controlled, Wirral's influence has already reduced further.
"Instead of these pathetic political battles for internal control they should be focusing on providing a transport infrastructure that is fit for purpose and best serves the interests of the public.
"I have long been critical of Merseytravel's failure to improve the Bidston to Wrexham railway linking areas of high unemployment with job hot spots and opportunities in Wales. And still there is no sign of any progress.
"Merseytravel's political structure is definitely not fit for purpose and should be abolished, returning scrutiny to the districts and making political coordination a responsibility of the existing City Region Leaders group - this move alone could save thousands in bloated allowances."
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David Bartlett
City editor of the Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs.
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The suggestion to give control to the Existing City Region leaders would just move the political infighting to a different level.
The only valid solution is to move to a Transport Commissioner elected across the city region. This would provide a single focused leadership that needed to appeal to the entire region rather than any one group. It is the ideal post for an independent with technical understanding to stand.
It would be cheaper than having multiple bureaucracies controlled by each borough and extra level to communicate between them.
The structure would mimic Transport for London with the Commissioner replacing the Mayor and being the single elected member.
Ideally the area would not just include Merseyside and Halton but also West Lancs, Warrington and Ellsmere Port and Possible Chester and Deeside.