West of England council leaders push for bus franchising

Summarised from BBC Bristol's report · Updated 20 Oct, 20:28 · Archive

Liberal Democrat council leaders in the West of England are calling on the regional mayor to bring buses back under public control through franchising.

Liberal Democrat council leaders across the West of England have called on the regional mayor to franchise bus services. A franchising model would see the West of England combined authority set routes and timetables, with private operators bidding to run services. The authority would receive fare revenue, allowing profits from busy city centre routes to support less profitable rural services.

The leaders argue franchising would improve coordination between buses and trains, enable a single ticketing system and a daily price cap, and give elected politicians clearer accountability for service quality. Councillor Kevin Guy of Bath and North Somerset said the mayor should "get on with it". However, the mayor has indicated she is considering franchising as a long-term option but is not willing to introduce it within three years due to additional costs that would require raising council tax bills.

Read the report

• Lib Dems call on regional mayor to franchise busesCouncil leaders from across West united to call for the regional mayor to "get on with" bus reform.BBC Bristol · 20 Oct, 17:27

In this story: Bath and North Somerset Council · Bristol · South Gloucestershire Council · North Somerset · West of England combined authority

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