Labour Government Introduces New Legislation to Improve Local Bus Services
The Labour Government has introduced the Buses Services Bill, which will revolutionize the bus network in England by granting local authorities greater control over bus services. The new legislation comes after a decade of decline in bus services outside of London, with thousands of services cut and almost 300m fewer miles driven by buses per year since 2010. In Lancashire alone, bus miles declined by 39%, equivalent to 11m less miles.
Key Takeaways:
- The Buses Services Bill will expand the power to 'franchise' bus services to all local transport authorities, allowing them to hold private bus operators to account and improve service quality locally.
- The Bill will grant local authorities greater control over routes, fares, and service levels of bus services, with private operators bidding for contracts to operate franchises.
- The ban on publicly owned bus companies, prohibited in law since 2017, will be reversed, giving local authorities more flexibility on how to approach fixing local services.
- Lancashire County Council and Westmorland and Furness Council have been urged to use the new powers to improve local bus services, following a letter from Morecambe MP Lizzi Collinge.
- The Labour Government's new legislation would represent the largest overhaul of local transport powers in 40 years.
- Morecambe and Lunesdale MP Lizzi Collinge has been actively working with the Lancaster District Bus Users Group to improve bus services.
Statistics:
- 300m fewer miles driven by buses per year since 2010
- 39% decline in bus miles in Lancashire, equivalent to 11m less miles
- Number of bus services cut: thousands
- Percentage of decline in bus services outside of London: significant
- Number of years since the ban on publicly owned bus companies: 5
Sources:
- https://www.gov.uk/gov... (The Buses Services Bill)
- Comment from Morecambe MP Lizzi Collinge
- Lancaster District Bus Users Group
- Government statistics on bus usage and decline