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MP welcomes Buses Bill announcement
10/09/2024
Local transport authorities across England will be given powers to pursue bus franchising
Banbury’s MP Sean Woodcock has welcomed yesterday’s announcement by the Labour government that local leaders will once again be able to take control of bus services in our area.
Currently only Metro Mayors have the powers to pursue bus franchising, but under the “Buses Bill” all local transport authorities across England will be given these powers and barriers to achieving public control will be removed to speed up the process.
Within the plans local transport authorities are encouraged to consider driver welfare and passenger safety, including anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls.
Bus services in England’s regions (outside London) have declined since 2010, with thousands of services cut and almost 300 million fewer miles driven by buses.
Mr Woodcock said: “I am so pleased to see the Labour Government moving fast and taking bold steps to deliver better buses for local communities like mine.
“After fourteen years of Conservative failure, our local bus services have been driven into the ground.
“For too long, my constituents across Banbury, Chipping Norton & North Oxfordshire have put up with unacceptable delays, cancellations and unaccountable private operators. The Labour Government’s plan for better buses will give communities like Banbury the power to take back control of their bus services, and will support local leaders to deliver better buses, faster.”
Meanwhile a motion at today’s meeting of Oxfordshire County Council seeks to take the first steps towards making use of the changes in the Buses Bill. Councillor Charlie Hicks has proposed bringing buses back into public control in Oxfordshire through bus franchising.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam