Closure by stealth

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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]

The classic examples of closure by stealth involve railway services. [2] [3] [4] 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. By degrading the quality of the service, scheduling trains to run at inconvenient times or frequencies (known as parliamentary train services), and 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) [5] [6]

Besides railway services, apparent closures by stealth have been observed in other services as well, such as hospitals, post offices, and magistrate courts.[7] [8] [9]

[edit] References

  1. ^ John Whitelegg: Rural Railways and Disinvestment in Rural Areas. Regional Studies 21(1), pp 53-63, 1987
  2. ^ Bradford Telegraph & Argus. Long battle to save Settle-Carlisle line ended in triumph. Bradford Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  3. ^ Graham Ellis. Melksham and TransWilts train service - closure by stealth?. Well House Consultants. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  4. ^ Ray King. RDS rescue plan for threatened line. Railwatch. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  5. ^ Rail Passengers Council and Committee. Response to the Office of the Rail Regulator’s Interim Review of Track Access Charges Third Consultation paper. Rail Passengers Council and Committee. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  6. ^ Hansard. House of Commons Hansard Debates for 6 Dec 2004 (pt 14). Hansard. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  7. ^ Erica Watson. Closure by stealth of Westbury Hospital. BBC. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  8. ^ Rosie Murray-West. Indecision that blights 1,000 post offices. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  9. ^ Bob Walter, MP. MP leads campaign to halt North Dorset court closures. Bob Walter, MP. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
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