Closure by stealth: Difference between revisions
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{{seealso|Payphone#United Kingdom}} |
{{seealso|Payphone#United Kingdom}} |
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Closure by stealth is also happening to [[Telephone booth|public telephones]] in the UK, which are regulated by the UK Government under the [[Universal Service Directive]] of the [[European Union]]. For coin-operated payphones, the minimum charge (October 2011) is 60p<ref>http://www.payphones.bt.com/publicpayphones/paymentprices.htm</ref> - substantially more than the cost of using a [[mobile phone]].{{cn|date=July 2012}} |
Closure by stealth is also happening to [[Telephone booth|public telephones]] in the UK, which are regulated by the UK Government under the [[Universal Service Directive]] of the [[European Union]]. For coin-operated payphones, the minimum charge (October 2011) is 60p<ref>http://www.payphones.bt.com/publicpayphones/paymentprices.htm</ref> - substantially more than the cost of using a [[mobile phone]].{{cn|date=July 2012}} |
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==Post offices== |
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In the UK, [[Post offices]] are being downgraded by withdrawal of services. For example, it is no longer possible to buy a [[Television licensing in the United Kingdom|TV licence]] at a Post office.<ref>https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/pay/payment-methods/index.aspx</ref> |
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==Other services== |
==Other services== |
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Revision as of 17:21, 22 July 2013
Closure by stealth is a term most frequently used in the UK and Ireland to refer to the deliberate downgrading of a service by the management or owners with the intention of driving away users or customers. The aim is to make the service uneconomical, and thereby justify its closure or withdrawal.[1][2] It is most widely used in the case of government-regulated services, where a company needs permission from local government or central government to withdraw a service.
Railways
The classic examples of closure by stealth involve UK railway services.[3][4][5] These are often regulated at some level by local or national government, and the only way the owner can withdraw such a service is by demonstrating that the local population no longer needs that service. Some of the UK rail closures made under the Beeching Axe while British Rail were operating services were justified at the time by deliberately not including future efficiencies and bringing forward many years of future costs into a short time frame to show, by accounting, that the route was not sustainable. By degrading the quality of the service — for example by scheduling trains to run at inconvenient times or frequencies (known as parliamentary train services) or by raising fares — transport operators can force passengers to take other modes of transport, justifying the view of the service owner that the service is no longer required (a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy) [6][7]
Public telephones
Closure by stealth is also happening to public telephones in the UK, which are regulated by the UK Government under the Universal Service Directive of the European Union. For coin-operated payphones, the minimum charge (October 2011) is 60p[8] - substantially more than the cost of using a mobile phone.[citation needed]
Other services
Apparent closures by stealth have been observed in other services, such as hospitals, public libraries and magistrate courts.[9][10][11][12]
See also
References
- ^ "Consultation on the Implementation of the Railways Act 2005 Provisions on Closures and Minor Modifications - A response from the City of Edinburgh Council" (PDF). Scottish Government Office. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
- ^ Peter Johnston (2003-08-31). "Letters to the Editor - Off the rails". London: Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
- ^ "Long battle to save Settle-Carlisle line ended in triumph". Bradford Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 2006-11-04.
- ^ Graham Ellis. "Melksham and TransWilts train service - closure by stealth?". Well House Consultants. Retrieved 2006-11-04.
- ^ Ray King. "RDS rescue plan for threatened line". Railwatch. Retrieved 2006-11-04.
- ^ "Response to the Office of the Rail Regulator's Interim Review of Track Access Charges Third Consultation paper" (PDF). Rail Passengers Council and Committee. Retrieved 2006-11-04.
- ^ Hansard. "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 6 Dec 2004 (pt 14)". Hansard. Retrieved 2006-11-04.
- ^ http://www.payphones.bt.com/publicpayphones/paymentprices.htm
- ^ Erica Watson. "Closure by stealth of Westbury Hospital". BBC. Retrieved 2006-11-04.
- ^ Rosie Murray-West (2006-10-23). "Indecision that blights 1,000 post offices". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2006-11-04.
- ^ Ian Thomas (2000-05-19). "Is there a future for public libraries?". BBC. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
- ^ Bob Walter, MP. "MP leads campaign to halt North Dorset court closures". Bob Walter, MP. Retrieved 2006-11-04.
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