Liberal Democrats have slammed the Tyne and Wear Metro operator, Nexus, as they announce plans to move Headquarters shortly after the chaos at Christmas caused by the Gateshead Flyover.
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00:00Liberal Democrat councillors in Newcastle have slammed plans for Metro operator Nexus
00:05to move to a new headquarters at a cost of £700,000.
00:09The Lib Dems branded the move extraordinary at a time when passengers on the Metro have
00:13faced significant disruption following the closure of the Gateshead flyover.
00:17The issue of the service has already seen the North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, delay
00:20an annual fare increase until July.
00:23Newcastle Lib Dem councillor Greg Stone said devolution was billed as giving power back
00:27to the people of this region, but it increasingly looks like it's giving power to a small regional
00:32elite to reform public services and pass a budget for Nexus, which prioritises fare rises,
00:38staffing cuts and expensive new offices over the road from their current HQ.
00:42A Combined Authority spokesperson has stated Nexus has agreed actions to improve the Metro
00:47service, including rolling out the new trains as quickly as possible and giving passengers
00:51better customer information through upgrades to the pop-up.
00:54Nexus is also moving to smaller offices because the lease on its current building is about to end.