West Midlands' 'failing' bus network 'isn't working for residents' - mayor
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has described the region’s bus network as “failing” after it was agreed to “prop up” the system with more funding.
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Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) board agreed an extension of the Bus Network Support Grant which provides financial support to operators.
This means the existing agreement will be extended from April 1 to April 30 before a new arrangement is put in place covering May 1 to December 31.
But, after a meeting on Friday (March 14), Mr Parker reiterated his pledge to overhaul the bus network and introduce a franchising system – to replace the current deregulated model – which will bring control of the routes, timetables and fares back under public control.
A report to the committee said more than 30 per cent of current commercially-operated routes would be put at risk without the funding while fares would face bigger hikes.
It also said work was still being done to establish the level of funding required for the proposed grant.
But, when setting out his plans on franchising, Mr Parker said the authority provides around £50 million in grants a year to operators.
Despite this funding, however, the mayor said this has failed to stop bus fares being increased and services being reduced.
Mr Parker said: “Tens of thousands of our residents rely on our bus network every day to get to school, college and work, and access essential services like doctors’ appointments.
“But our bus network isn’t working for our residents. And this annual round of negotiations, to agree funding to prop up a failing system, is exactly why we need a better solution to how we run our buses.
“That’s why we are taking steps to bring the service under greater public control and ensure it remains affordable and accessible to everyone.”
A public consultation on bus reform has been running since early January and attracted more than 3,000 responses with still two weeks to go before the March 30 deadline.
People are able to take part in the online consultation by visiting the Transport for West Midlands website at https://www.tfwm.org.uk/consultations/bus-reform/.
