Calls are growing for a bold Strathclyde-wide bid to bring the region’s bus services under ‘democratic control’.
South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) leader, Joe Fagan, has written to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and the leaders of its member local authorities to seek cross-party agreement on the way forward.
He, along with others, believe Strathclyde should adopt a policy of London-style bus franchising, with an extension of public and community ownership, to replace the region’s broken bus market.
Councillors are also warning that government funding and support is essential to making new bus powers meaningful.
Councillor Fagan told us : “The deregulation of Strathclyde’s buses has been an abject failure.
"Passenger numbers are plummeting, routes are being cut and bus services are in crisis. Yet fares keep going up.
“New Transport Act powers will allow councils to take control of bus networks, either with London-style franchising or public ownership, but those powers are only meaningful if there is adequate funding and government support.
"The region’s leaders must come together and put the total transformation of bus services back on the agenda.
"We have to work across party lines to persuade the government that democratic control of the network represents the best way forward.
“The best bus networks in Europe are integrated, affordable and publicly-controlled."
The Transport (Scotland) Act allows for local authorities to run their own bus services by July 2022.
Secondary legislation to enable bus franchising and partnership options will also be introduced before the end of 2023.
Councillor Fagan added: "Progressive city-regions like Greater Manchester and Merseyside are bringing their bus networks back under public control, with local accountability and caps on fares.
They know it’s the only way to deliver world-class transport for world-class city-regions.
“Let’s set out a bold plan for integrated, London-style transport here, with a daily cap on fares across Greater Glasgow and the West.
"If the Scottish Government are serious about tackling the climate emergency and improving public transport, they will have to get behind us. It’s time for leadership to scrap the broken bus market and turn our public transport network around.”
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