Counillor Malcolm Mitchell
‘BUS FRANCHISING REPRESENTS BEST CHANCE OF CHANGE’
“GIVE me better public transport and I’ll leave the car at home”. It’s a frequent comment I receive from constituents. I am listening, we are listening.
I was proud to vote, as a board member of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) to put to consultation a route map that will lead to our bus network returning to public control via franchising, so that your voices can be heard.
It is no surprise the recommendations are very similar to the bus governance route map agreed by Glasgow City Council in 2022. The SNP-led city council has a bold vision for public transport, including bus priority enhancements on five Strategic Bus Corridors across Glasgow, including Dumbarton Road and Great Western Road. SPT is now being bolder under its first-ever SNP chair, Stephen Dornan. Our national government in Edinburgh has also taken positive steps to improve public transport.
Bus deregulation was part of the Thatcherite ‘big bang’ of neo-liberal policy, which allowed for both deregulation and privatisation in the bus market. This allowed private companies and eventually monopolies to emerge.
Enabled by the Labour administration in Glasgow, who undervalued the sale at £30m, the resulting hollowing out in our bus capacity and network was inevitable.
The Scottish Government brought ScotRail under public control, righting these wrongs.
SPT is delivering a modernisation scheme for the Subway and will also be delivering a new ‘smart’ version of the zonecard travel pass, with new ticket durations available, such as day tickets. This will mean seamless journeys across different forms of public transport.
The ambitious Clyde Metro project moved a step further forward, with Glasgow City Council securing over £12million to assist with this.
Bus franchising won’t happen overnight. Significant money will need to be provided by the Scottish Government and/or the UK Government.
The economic benefit of public transport is without doubt. If we are serious about the fight against the climate emergency, then good quality public transport is also essential.
For some, bus franchising is a matter of ideology. For me, it represents the best chance to deliver the radical change to our bus network that the public deserve. I encourage everyone to head to the SPT website and submit their views on the consultation. The SNP have made sure SPT are listening and hearing your voice.
Bus franchising won’t happen overnight. Significant money will need to be provided by the Scottish Government and/or the UK Government