The sale of Council interest in the Yellow Buses has seen a fall in standard of services as routes have been cut in order for the Ariva, the owners, to maximise profit.

The decision was taken with limited financial information being made available, and without fully assessing the impact privatization might have on Bournemouth's residents and visitors.

Yellow Buses provided the Council almost £1 million a year and have been part or fully owned by the Council for over 100 years. owned It has now been sold for a one off, £13m with little detail on how this windfall will be spent.

As predicted by the Conservatives, routes have now been cut and fares have increased. Only after vigorous campaigning by local MPs, opposition councillors and residents have the Lib Dems finally acknowledged that gaps have now appeared in Bournemouth's bus network, for example the the No. 27 service which provided Boscombe pier, a key tourist attraction, with its only public transport link.

The 1985 Public Transport Act stipulates the responsibility local authorities have in ensuring a service is available in areas where there is a social need. As Yellow Buses now follow a policy of cutting any route which is not profitable (as opposed to the profitable routes supporting the less profitable ones) the folly of the Lib Dem decision to sell the Yellow Buses becomes apparent.

The Lib Dem Council made a one off £13m windfall and are now being forced to pay for the gaps in the Yellow Bus service which the privatized company refuses to fill. This is not only unwise accounting it is costly to the Bournemouth tax payer and has lead to more cars on the roads and inconvenience to those who do not own cars.