M&M Bankruptcy - Page 2

Margaret Pilkington · 21-09-2016, 21:10

Gremlin, the ladies and gents that used these buses actually talked to one another on the short journeys...they did not spend their time exercising their thumbs, texting or being mesmerised by a small screen.

Eric · 22-09-2016, 00:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

We had better bus services before de-regulation( or that is my memory of the situation).......and I don't really think that Barnes Square or Sparth Road can be considered rural Jason.

Come think of it, hon, "rural" has a nice sound to it. Makes one feel all bucolic. And posh too. Much better folks than those low-lifes that live in a "town."

Eric · 22-09-2016, 00:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Gremlin, the ladies and gents that used these buses actually talked to one another on the short journeys...they did not spend their time exercising their thumbs, texting or being mesmerised by a small screen.

Talking of "ladies" and "gents", think what a disaster it would be if they ever had wi-fi in the bogs

Restless · 22-09-2016, 07:18

Well I just did an interview for Radio Lancashire. What a garbled mess! But an honest opinion given.

Good to hear pilkingtons taking over the route cause my mother stays on the bus from town till it comes back the other way because she doesn't like to cross roads too often

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Neil · 22-09-2016, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCB

M and M go off the road at noon on Thursday .

Pilkingtons will operate the service I use mostly (Barnfield/Laneside) from Friday morning .

And they are retaining Geoff the regular driver for this route ......a driver who is a friend to the passengers , courteous and helpful .

Let's hope the same happens with the other M and M routes .

That is good news, he is a good bloke and many on here will know him

Restless · 23-09-2016, 06:49

Thankfully they tactfully edited 3-5 minute interview into a few seconds

Margaret Pilkington · 23-09-2016, 09:53

Thanks Rob.
What you said was spot on.
And the bus driver who said it was a lifeline for many folk...folk who have nop other way of getting out and about.
Very sad, for all concerned.

Restless · 23-09-2016, 12:18

The driver is Harry. Many will remember him from 80-2000's doing the ice cream van around Accrington. Known him for around 30 years. We have a good laugh. He went to pilkingtons and they agreed to take on the forts arms run that he's been doing with m&m for several years and gave him the job so a lot of thanks goes out to them. I hope they do the Burnley run that goes through altham cause tons rely on that as I said in the interview because nobody wants to pay for two buses because the transdev/Lancashire united bus just to hare and hounds is £2.50 !

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Margaret Pilkington · 23-09-2016, 12:49

I am pleased to hear that the Forts Arms service will keep going...there are a few oldies who rely on that service to get into town...and the walk to the end of Sparth Road would probably see'em off.
Glad that Pilkingtons have taken Harry on......they won't be sorry he is a great chap.

AccyMad · 23-09-2016, 15:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I am pleased to hear that the Forts Arms service will keep going...there are a few oldies who rely on that service to get into town...and the walk to the end of Sparth Road would probably see'em off.
Glad that Pilkingtons have taken Harry on......they won't be sorry he is a great chap.

That's exactly the boat that my mum & stepdad are in Margaret & they are very grateful that Pilky's have stepped in, I believe Harry had a lot to do with the decision to keep the Forts Arms route going so good on him.
My stepdad spoke well on the piece North West Tonight did, he was being asked for his autograph all round town this morning

Restless · 23-09-2016, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by AccyMad

, I believe Harry had a lot to do with the decision to keep the Forts Arms route going so good on him.
My stepdad spoke well on the piece North West Tonight did, he was being asked for his autograph all round town this morning

Yep. As stayed above in my post. Good guy is harry. I brought him a model subway train back from London as a random surprise

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Busman747 · 24-09-2016, 16:38

Thank you all that have supported M&M on this thread. The company HAS cut corners simply to survive running the risk of being immediately being taken off the road by the all-powerful Ministry of Transport.

Did you know that at ANY time, they could check business accounts and if the owner didn't have £3,000? (Not totally sure of the amount but I'm close) in the bank for EACH bus, they could be fined or have their Operators licenses rescinded?

That EVERY bus HAS to have the equivalent of an MoT every 6 weeks by an independent mechanic? One day late and points are deducted on their "Traffic light system" GREEN for the good'uns, AMBER for those that need watching and RED for the cowboys. (or those that can't keep up with the costs)

Up until recently, the council encouraged companies to serve communities that were "non-profitable" by paying them for the service by giving subsidies. A company I worked for 8 years back had a local run which had an average of 50 passes a day plus around £4-00 in cash. This would have generated around £25-00 per day. Deduct wages, maintenance costs and the cost of the vehicle which was bought especially - - - and what have you left without subsidies? DEBT!! Small private commercial companies just cannot absorb these costs.

M&M were a "local" company that tried it's best but ultimately was beaten by the system! (Did you know that the "skilled" drivers of M&M were on the minimum wage of £7.20???)

Like Harry, I have been employed by Pilkingtons. I had my doubts, Pilkies had a reputation for slapdash maintenance due to action from the Ministry of Transport - - - but I have found that they are very conscious of public safety and have found that happy medium of serving the community and making a small profit.

Support the local companies, as Tesco's say: Every little helps

Margaret Pilkington · 24-09-2016, 16:54

Thank you for giving us those facts.
I certainly did not know of those punitive regulations.....and I would guess that most people on here didn't know either.
I certainly valued the service provided by M&M.......and as I have said before the drivers really were the tops. They could teach the transdev driver a thing or three.

Bus man, I am glad that you have found a place with Pilky's.
I hope you will be happy and continue to serve the older folk of our communities, because they do value your services.
Without them they would be very isolated and lonely.

yerself · 02-10-2016, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretPilkington.

Gremlin, the ladies and gents that used these buses actually talked to one another

Bus users talking to each other, or are their heads buried in the social media of bygone times?

Margaret Pilkington · 02-10-2016, 11:39

Yes, these are young folk in the main on this bus...Older folk have a tendency to talk to one another a bit more.
I would also hazard a guess that this picture is taken in one of the large cities....probably London(ok, I could be wrong).
When I was nine I spent some time in London...I had been taken down there to visit an aunt.
My grandma(who was from Sheffield) talked to people on the buses down there.....some would engage in conversation, others would look at her like they had manure on their top lip.