Cross-Party Support for Bristol Bus Franchise Application Letter

Parliamentary candidates including the Greens, Lib Dems and Social Democratic Party have signed an open letter calling for buses in the West of England to come under public control. Among the signatories is Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party and parliamentary candidate for Bristol Central.

Civil society organizations representing healthcare, youth, older people and climate action, as well as local councillors, are also backing the letter, which is accompanied by a public petition with nearly 4,000 signatures.

The letter calls on WECA Mayor Dan Norris to launch a formal investigation into the bus franchise without waiting for the general election. This formal inquiry has already taken place in several mayoral authorities, including Greater Manchester and Liverpool in 2023 and West and South Yorkshire this year. And it follows BristolLive last year launching a campaign calling for a better bus service for Bristol and for services to be brought back under local control.

The letter outlines the following steps they would like to see taken:

– Official bus franchising investigation – this gives Metro Mayor access to commercial bus operator data and provides an informed business case for or against franchising in the area.

– Public consultation – 12-week public consultation on the franchise

– The metro mayor’s decision

– Creation of a new publicly controlled bus system

Anna Mounteney, our campaigner for Reclaim Buses, said: “People in the West of England suffer every day because of a failing public transport system.

“We face a severe lack of bus infrastructure, with inadequate bus lanes and stations lacking basic amenities such as timetables and seats. The problem of “ghost buses” – buses that never turn up – is leading to an acute lack of trust and confidence in the bus system. it creates a downward spiral where declining bus use signals further reductions in service quality.”

And one bus user added: “This is both a local and a national problem. Buses do not operate for residents in either rural or urban areas outside of London, and the West of England is no exception.

“I find it incredible how difficult it is to get the bus in Bristol city, but especially in the North Fringe area of ​​Filton, Patchway and Bradley Stoke, to get anywhere that isn’t Bristol city center or a key hub that so much. it happens to be on the local bus corridor.

“For example, from my home in Filton Park, to get to key destinations such as Bradley Stoke Tesco, UWE or Bristol Parkway Station, you need to either catch and pay for two buses (which are not guaranteed to be within same operator ecosystem). ) or taking an hourly service that is indirect.

“This doesn’t get people out of their cars. Bus franchising allows bus companies to operate buses connecting secondary transport hubs (which may operate at a negligible loss) like these to provide connectivity and fares that take into account the fact that a journey could consist of several buses. “

Labour’s manifesto includes positive commitments to allow all local governments to start franchising their buses – something that is only available to city regions in England (including West of England Combined Authority Mayor Mr Norris). If Mr Norris is elected as an MP, he may have other ways of promoting bus franchising nationally. He previously cited the lack of prescriptive powers (increasing local taxes such as the council tax contribution to the police) as a barrier to bus franchising.