SPTUG Meeting 29/01/26

Minutes of SPTUG Meeting
Thursday 29th January 4:45pm
The Fans Museum Sunderland

Attendance Simon Burdus, Norman Jemison, Helmot Izak, Louis Mulleague, Alec McFadden

Review of the Special SPTUG Meeting 28th November with the NE Mayor Kim McGinness doing a Q & A sessions. Alec explained that the video recording was not ready to be shown, but that we expected this within the next few days together with a number of photos and active committee members will be invited to the first showing.
Alec opened the floor for opinions and views on the actual meeting.

All present had attended the session with Kim, and all felt it was an excellent evening with Kim answering all questions with openness and honesty.
Delegates were please that both Taxi employers and bus companies attended and took part in the discussions. The view was that a relationship had started which will be necessary after the Bus companies are taken into public ownership.

The holding of capped bus fares at £2.50 per journey was very popular however the regional “Rover” fare of 7.50 per day had mixed views.

The views around improving Sunderland train station was very strong, having only two platforms that will not allow the expansion of main lines and journeys to major cities. A new local organisation with hopes to increase and improve the number of shops in Sunderland Station has invited us to attend an event next Friday in the station, Helmut and Alec agreed to attend.

The sponsorship of the event by “Born Good” was welcomed and the food and refreshments had been very well received.
Rob was pleased that Lewis Atkinson MP had attended and contributed to the discussion and had requested to be fully involved with the SPTUG.

Sunderland station only had one shop and a great deal of advertising needs to be carried out. Helmut was pleased that the Friday market was starting to be well used and had thanked the Mayor for attending and speaking so well. Alec had confirmed he had already thanked Kim.

Strategic Rail Connections: Main Line City Stations – it was agreed to re-schedule this item as Phil Young was not in attendance.

Infrastructure update – Norman led this item in particular – the Leamside Line and Metro Washing Metro Loop. He was pleased Government funding was now available and both projects are expected to be in operation prior to 2029.

A great deal of discussion took place and the need to organise smaller mini buses to and from estates to all stations including the new Washington metro stations, and free car parking was raised. Every delegate spoke on this issue.

Launch of Go-Electric 26. This event was very well publicised and Chris had represented the SPTUG. The new buses are neutral green and called Angles. John pointed out a few snags and improvements that were required but the staff have welcomed the new bus flight.

Regional Licensing Policy. Rob raised the need for a standard region licensing policy for taxis. Rob raised the current situation that the Wolverhampton policy on Taxi licensing was very lax. This resulted in taxis from Wolverhampton working across the whole region. This practise was condemned.

It was then agreed to request the secretary to write a standard letter to go to all local members of parliament and Martin Gannon the Deputy NE Mayor with an invitation to attend a future SPTUG meeting.

The survey on level of racist abuse on public transport was raised by the Chair, and Louis said this was an area of his work at the Combined Authority and he would work closely with the officers. This was agreed and welcomed by the meeting.

The meeting ended 6:25pm

Alec McFadden
07831627531