Bus chief hits back at public control bid
Renfrewshire could have a first-class bus service if its “third-world infrastructure” were improved, transport bosses have claimed, amidst calls to franchise the network.
Chiefs at McGill’s, the largest bus operator in Renfrewshire, have hit back at those campaigning for buses to be brought back under public control.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) agreed earlier this month that bus franchising was the best long-term plan to both improve the service on offer and bolster passenger numbers.
The franchise approach would see SPT or an identified body set bus routes, fares and frequencies, with performance targets and customer feedback used to inform what operators are paid to run services.
It would seek to cover the Strathclyde region – which includes Renfrewshire and 11 other councils – and has a population of 2.2 million.
It’s likely to take seven years and £15 million to implement.
But McGill’s – which last year slashed bus services in Renfrewshire by 13 per cent – said SPT would need to justify this spend, claiming the cash should not come from central government.
Ralph Roberts, CEO of McGill’s
Group, said: “The next time voters hear councillors say they want “a world-class bus network”, please tell them to firstly put world-class roads and public transport infrastructure into place.
“The biggest priority for SPT should be to push local authorities to manage their infrastructure under the powers they already have which will allow bus users to make more consistent, quicker and cheaper journeys.
“If SPT and local authorities had done their job in this regard over the last 20 years, bus use would have grown rather than declined. As it stands, a worldclass bus system cannot operate on third-world infrastructure.”
Councillors from across the political spectrum, as well as members of the SPT Partnership Board, have called on the Scottish Government to provide funding to get the franchising model off the ground.
McGill’s, however, says it was given assurances by the then transport secretary Humza Yousaf when the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 act was first mooted that government money was off limits.
Mr Roberts added: “In our discussions with the then transport minister Humza Yousaf, when the Transport Act that permitted franchising was being formed, he was very clear that if local authorities want to use these powers, they would have to find the money in their own budgets and central government would not be footing the bill.
“He was also very clear that there would need to be a significant improvement in services as a result or it would not be allowed. If that rule was in place in England, the Bee Network in Manchester wouldn’t have happened as the improvements have been marginal at best.”
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “We will be investing a further £5million in our roads network this year, adding to the £6.7million last year and more than £50million over the term of this administration - a record investment for the council.
“Our roads have shown continuous improvements in recent years, with them being assessed as well above the Scottish average, and we have completed 96 per cent of pothole repairs within the appropriate timeline.”
As it stands, a world-class bus system cannot operate on third-world infrastructure