CRUCIAL talks have been held between a Government minister and a trade union to thrash out a solution to the country's spiralling bus crime problem.
Representatives from the Transport and General Workers Union and transport minister John Spellar agreed that tough action was needed to send crime levels on public transport crashing and to meet union demands for measures to prevent attacks being carried out on bus drivers.
It was agreed that staff and passengers need their confidence restoring in the safety of buses.
The news will be music to the ears of public transport users in Runcorn and Widnes who have suffered higher than average levels of trouble on some routes.
Certain services in Runcorn have even been withdrawn because of the dangers presented to passengers and drivers by thugs.
Halton Borough Council has now received a major cash injection to encourage public transport use and security measures are now on the cards.
Some of the funding will be used by the council to provide a busway warden who will work alongside an appointed police officer who will keep a close eye out for trouble
The warden will travel on the vehicles to provide a reassuring presence for staff and passengers, as well as visiting schools in the borough to help discourage young people from creating mayhem on the bus network.
Mr Spellar said: "I was pleased to meet union representatives to discuss this important issue following their recent campaign which has succeeded in highlighting the seriousness of the situation. We are absolutely determined to reduce crime and the fear of crime wherever it occurs.
"We are doing much already but I want to do more. For example, we have recently published Get On Board: An Agenda for Improving Personal Security in Bus Travel, with guidance on security for bus crews and passengers.
"We are actively encouraging driver training, particularly those involved with young people through the School Run, a training programme and workbook for bus drivers."
