A proposed Bill to transform Wales’ bus system published today[DJ1] has been supported by the WLGA, with local government cautioning that its rollout will take time.
The Bus Bill will see responsibility for planning most public bus services pass from local authorities to Transport for Wales (TfW). It will enable TfW to plan and manage bus networks, allowing them to coordinate routes, fares and service standards in line with public need.
Councils currently play a key role in supporting socially necessary routes, managing public transport infrastructure, and promoting integrated local travel. They will continue to play a major role, helping to influence decisions about the network at a local and, via Corporate Joint Committees, regional level.
The WLGA and councils’ public transport officers’ organisation (ATCO) have worked closely with the Welsh Government on early development of the legislation and are engaging with Cabinet Secretaries on the regional rollout of franchising and the resources needed to deliver it successfully.
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, WLGA Leader and Spokesperson for Transport, said:
“Franchising provides the opportunity to develop networks that meet wider social, economic and environmental needs, following years of deregulated services where income maximization has been a dominant consideration.
“Councils will continue to play a key role, sharing our knowledge of local needs and issues with bus and community transport operators, Transport for Wales and Welsh Government. However, franchising should not be seen as an instant panacea. It will take time for this to roll out across Wales and it will need to be adequately resourced if it is going to deliver the results that we all want to see.
“Many people and communities rely on bus services, whilst some have very poor or no service at all at present. We need to aim to protect existing services whilst also improving access in other areas. That will take time, good partnership work and money.”
[DJ1]The lead-in sentence needs to set out what the relevance is for us