Call on Government to deliver on Bus Promises (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Call on Government to deliver on Bus Promises

November 14, 2006 6:05 PM

Cllr Ryk Downes, Lib Dem Vice Chair of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, has written to the Transport Secretary, calling on him to make good his promise to provide local authorities with more powers over local bus services.

Cllr Downes said "During the Labour Party Conference Douglas Alexander said that he would "act to give the local transport authorities that need them real powers to make a difference". The Queen's Speech debate will show if he is really ready to deliver on the issue. Greater control of bus services enabling local representatives to have a say in routes and timings will provide a better service. Tens of thousands of Leeds residents have faced cuts in services over the last ten years and deserve to see a more local service.

"We have seen how such controls have worked in London. They have produced increased use of buses while elsewhere in the Country less people use buses and there is less choice of routes and times.

"Now the Government must live up to their rhetoric, or prove that their words are once again useless. Next week they set out their plans for action in Parliament over the coming year. We will watch them carefully."

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Note Cllr Downes Letter is attached below :-

Dear Secretary of State

In September you announced that you would be bringing forward proposals to give local authorities new powers over private bus companies in their areas. I am writing to you to urge that these proposals are included in next week's Queens Speech and introduced as early as possible.

In Leeds we face continuing problems as bus operators concentrate routes on main roads which generate the greatest profits. While they remain free to do so we see a reduction in services which actually serve local communities and link ordinary people to key services such as hospitals and shopping facilities. Routes which are subsidised by the Council Tax Payers through the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive receive the worst services with frequent cancellations and delays, and are run by buses in poor condition.

With worsening services in key residential areas we see an increasing pressure on people in these areas to abandon the bus services and either purchase their own cars, have to use taxis and mini cabs or become virtual prisoners in their own homes.

At the same time we have seen the improvement in bus usage in London, which we believe is linked to the ability of Transport for London to specify routes and service frequencies, rather than allowing the operators to have a free hand.

Similar powers to those available in London would enable local authorities across the country to respond to the needs of local people and help to provide services which met the needs of local people, rather than just generating the maximum profit for a national company

I hope very much that you will bring forward and rapidly implement proposals to address this issue.