Unions back plans to bring West Midlands buses back under public control
Unions have backed plans to bring West Midlands’ bus network under public control to help the region ‘punch its weight’.
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
At a West Midlands Combined Authority board meeting on Friday, members agreed an audit to be carried out on the Full Franchising Assessment as well as the establishment of a Bus Reform Panel.
If the model is implemented, the public will have control over bus fares, routes and timetables.
It will also see an end to the current subsidising model which has been in place since deregulation and sees millions of pounds provided to operators to help sustain routes.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said franchising was 'key for building a successful bus operation in the West Midlands' and this has been backed by a union.
At the meeting, Rob Johnson, from the Trade Union Congress said: "We warmly welcome this.
