Guernsey bus company financial penalties revealed

Deputy Roger Domaille said the financial penalties were "a spur" for the company to improve

The operator of Guernsey's public bus services has been fined more than £75,000 for dropped services over the past year.

Under CT Plus' contract with the States the subsidy it is paid is reduced when services are not run.

In June 2013 it was fined £68,679, after drivers held a one-day strike and weekday services were reduced.

Most of the fines have been allocated by the Environment Department to improve specific bus services.

The company has had service credits - the financial penalties - deducted in 11 of the past 12 months.

The most number of services were dropped in June 2013 when changes in working conditions led to drivers striking and working to rule, which led to the loss of a number of weekdays services.

Environment Minister Roger Domaille said if services had not improved from their low in June then the contract would have been terminated.

He said the money from the penalties was used to put on extra journeys, such as those that improved the frequency of services to Torteval.

Deputy Domaille said: "[Service credits have] proved to be a spur to encourage them... to get a much better service, which is what we have now."

The company's three-year contract is due to end in March, when it is due to go out to tender.