City aims to take more control of bus services
EXPANDED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OPERATORS PROPOSED AS PART OF A BID FOR GOVERNMENT FUNDING
COUNCIL bosses want to take more control of Leicester’s privatised buses in a move they hope will see fares cut and services expanded.
The city council is to make a bid for a share of £3 billion of government cash intended to improve bus services.
Whitehall’s National Bus Strategy (Bus Back Better) scheme requires councils to work with bus companies to come up with plans to encourage people to use public transport.
Local authorities have been told to choose between pursuing a franchising approach, where they would largely take over the running of the whole bus network, or forging an enhanced partnership with operators, in which they work more closely together.
The city council has indicated it will take the enhanced partnership route, and will spend the next four months working with bus operators on a plan.
This will include a public consultation due to launch later this summer.
After that point it, it will be clearer how much the council will be bidding for from the fund.
Deputy mayor Councillor Adam Clarke, pictured, the council’s environment and transport spokesman, said: “By working closely with bus operators we have been able to bring about improvements such as greater bus priority, real-time bus information, contactless ticketing, the city centre clean air zone for buses and continued improvement in emissions – all despite the city council’s limited powers of influence. Now, we want to take this new opportunity to work even more closely with bus companies on issues around bus fares, more investment in electrifying the city’s bus fleet and further improvements across the network.
“This will build on the huge investment in improving services for passengers in the city with a new fleet of electric buses on park and ride services, new bus priority schemes and work under way on our carbon neutral replacement for St Margaret’s bus station.
“A high-quality and attractive public transport network will be vital for the city to meet its environmental, economic and growth challenges in the years to come.
“It is, therefore, encouraging the government recognises the important role councils can play in improving bus services, 35 years on from deregulation. “New investment and making sure we’re listening to people about the improvements they want to see will be critical to encouraging more passengers back on to public transport, particularly after what has been a very challenging year.”
The council said it was already carrying out an £80 million citywide programme of investment in sustainable transport, backed by £40 million from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund.
It has also begun a 10-year contract with Clear Channel UK to replace and manage the city’s 479 bus shelters. The £13.5 million St Margaret’s bus station redevelopment is part of a regeneration project supported by £10.5 million of government cash.