Southport Hospital free bus service on Christmas Day

For the first time in many years there will be free bus service to Southport Hospital on Christmas Day.

John Dodd has welcomed Merseytravel's funding of free hospital bus services on Christmas Day, including the service to Southport Hospital.  This is good news for residents who are otherwise unable to get to the hospital to visit relatives or friends.

Cllr Dodd, who is the Liberal Democrat representative on Merseytravel, went on to say "Due to a successful marketing campaign, patronage was improved on the Christmas and New Year 2010/11 services. A subsequent campaign will be developed for 2011/2012 to further raise awareness of this service."

John Dodd welcomes reduction in Merseytravel bureaucracy

Cllr John Dodd has welcomed proposals to reduce the number of committees at Merseytravel from the current 34 down to 8.

Cllr Dodd says "This is something the Liberal Democrats have been requesting for a long time.  I am glad Labour have taken on board what the Lib Dems have being saying. This new committee structure brings Merseytravel in to line with other local authorities and will better serve the public of Southport and Sefton as a whole".  

Cllr John Dodd is the Sefton Liberal Democrat representative on the Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority (Merseytravel). For further information please contact John Dodd.

Merseyrail saga - latest

The continuing saga of Labour's games on Merseytravel took another turn at last night's meeting of Sefton Council.

Lib Dem councillors proposed a motion to try to get to the bottom of why Labour-controlled Merseytravel had suddenly abandoned plans for Merseyrail to take control over its own track. The plans had all-party support and £1.5 million had already been spent. But at a meeting on 27th June Labour suddenly pulled the plug without notice and without giving any explanation. We have been trying to get to the bottom of this ever since.

Lib Dem Leader on Sefton, Cllr Tony Robertson, takes up the story. He writes:

"Last night at Sefton's Full Council meeting we may have started to unravel what on earth went on within Merseyside’s Integrated Transport Authority when it dropped, out of the blue I would add, any involvement in bringing Merseyrail’s infrastructure under its own control.

"So what did I learn from putting the motion, which unsurprisingly Labour voted down. Well I learned that The Labour Chairman of Merseytravel is at odd with his Director General over the matter as Cllr. Dowd (senior) told us all that he disagreed with Mersytravel’s officers over the project. Bear in mind that Cllr. Dowd has previously supported it!"

The full story is on Cllr Tony Robertson's excellent blog.

John Dodd welcomes new Merseytravel smartcard

Cllr John Dodd welcomes Merseytravel's smartcard revolution which is starting in the autumn. The new smartcards are similar to London's Oyster cards and are due to be introduced in October.

Cllr Dodd, who is a Liberal Democrat representative on Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority (Merseytravel) said "The new smartcards will eliminate the frustration of queuing for tickets. They will make it easier for people to use the public transport system, whether train, bus or ferry."

Once fully implemented,  it will be the biggest smartcard network outside London. Merseytravel will be investing a substantial amount of money in the technology after receiving a £2.2m grant from the coalition Government. 

Cllr Dodd added that cardholders can arrange to receive e-mails warning of any delays on their journey if they provide Merseytravel with details of the route to be taken.

Merseyrail's eight busiest stations already operate barriers which are smartcard friendly. The smartcard scheme will encourage more people to use public transport. 

John Dodd slams Labour "Gravy Train" on Merseytravel

Cllr John Dodd has welcomed the U-turn by Labour Councillors on Liverpool City Council to stop claiming multiple special allowances on Merseytravel and to back Lib Dem calls for councillors allowances to be set by an independent panel. Cllr Dodd is the Sefton Council Liberal Democrat representative on Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority (Merseytravel). 

Cllr Dodd said ”Liverpool City Labour Councillors agreed to claim only one allowance each in advance of an independent panel being set up.”  The U-turn, which could save Council Tax payers £25,000, comes just weeks after the same Labour councillors rejected Lib Dem calls for independent scrutiny.

Cllr Dodd went on to say ”Merseytravel is the only local authority in the country where councillors are allowed  to set their own pay. They have created 31 paid positions to be shared between 13 Labour councillors on  Merseytravel”.

Cllr Dodd also said that “Labour Councillors in Liverpool have been forced to face the public anger at their allowances scandal, and have finally been shamed into taking action. It's time for Sefton Labour councillor Cllr Mark Dowd, the Chairman of Merseytravel, who earns £48,000 from Merseytravel to take the lead from his Liverpool colleagues and stop claiming more than one special responsibility allowance on Merseytravel."

"Cllr Dowd, instead of claiming Special Responsibility Allowances for the post as Chair of Merseytravel, Chair of Rail Services and Chair of Policy and Resources Committees, you could do the decent thing for the residents of Sefton.  Come on, Cllr Mark Dowd!"

Cllr Dodd said ”research shows that the transport authority pays Councillors more than other transport bodies”. Merseytravel is the only travel authority in the country that has not set up an independent allowances panel. Instead, members vote for their own pay.

At the Annual Meeting of the Transport Authority, Cllr Dodd remarked “After the MPs expenses scandal, it’s amazing that Labour Councillors think they can get away with setting their own salaries, and also claim multiple allowances for attending meetings. When the public see over 30 paid jobs created and shared between just 13 Labour Councillors, they must think the transport authority is running a gravy train. Merseytravel costs more than any other transport authority”.