MP Bill Esterson has called for bus services to be brought back under public control to give Merseyside a “first class” bus network on a par with London’s.
The MP said the Bus Services Act 2017 gives more powers to local authorities to run integrated bus networks which “serve passengers not shareholders”.
London buses are fully regulated. Transport for London sets the routes, the timetables and the fares, and the MP said it was far better than the service provided through the “failure” of bus deregulation.
The MP for Sefton Central said: “I am in London Monday to Thursday and I see the enormous benefits of a reliable, integrated and value for money bus service. I want to see the same for my constituents and the whole of the Liverpool City Region.
“The Bus Services Act is far from perfect and means a number of hurdles need to be cleared by local authorities, but it does offer the chance to take back control of the way a bus service is run in an area. It means profits can be ploughed back into cheaper fares or investment for the future. Why should the bus companies be making a profit where that money could come into the public purse.
“The deregulation of buses has been a complete failure.”
The MP praised Merseytravel for retaining the 133 Kirkby to Waterloo service as an hourly service after unfounded rumours by a Lib-Dem councillor that it was to be cut to a two-hourly route.
Mr Esterson said: “The Lib-Dems supported the cuts when they were in government with the Conservatives for five years from 2010 to 2015 which meant less money for publicly subsidised bus services. For those same Lib-Dems then to complain about possible cuts is the height of hypocrisy and their failure to get the facts straight is irresponsible. Well done to Merseytravel for keeping this important route which passengers rely on.”
Currently, bus companies are able to run services on profitable routes, but there is no obligation on them to provide a service where that service is not profitable. That falls on the local travel authority – Merseytravel in the case of Merseyside – to provide. Around 15% of Merseyside buses are subsidised in order to provide a comprehensive service.
Merseytravel is barred from running any services on profitable routes that “compete” with a private provider.
Mr Esterson said: “Our buses could be so much better. If Merseytravel were able to control the service they would set the routes and fares and they would then contract those out to private companies. They would be able to amend the timetables to improve the connections between one route and another. There would be an opportunity to reduce fares to try to increase the number of people using buses. All the revenue would come back to Merseytravel, unlike presently where it goes toward the profits of the bus companies.
“Merseytravel may be able to put on more of the unprofitable routes serving a wider area because they would be able to cross-subsidise from the more profitable routes. This would give a far better service because it would be based on social need not profitability.
“The Bus Services Act allows local authorities to franchise bus services. It is a particularly cumbersome piece of legislation which a Labour government would amend to allow buses to be fully publicly owned. It’s disgraceful that this Conservative Government has stopped us from running buses under public ownership.
“I know Cllr Liam Robinson, chair of Merseytravel, and the City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram are doing some really good work looking at all the options available and they have my full support.”
The changes would also give Merseytravel the chance to overhaul the payment system. At present there is an array of options including Solo and Trio cards, plus bus companies’ own weekly tickets, which can only be used on their buses.
London’s system provides an option of contactless payment for easy use on buses and tube trains with the total amount payable per day or week capped.
Sefton Labour councillors Nina Killen and Catie Page backed the MP’s stance.
Cllr Killen, councillor for Ravenmeols ward in Formby, said: “There are opportunities here that should be taken advantage of. I have recently taken part in Merseytravel’s Bus Strategy consultation and fed back the comments I often get from constituents, which centre around reliability of the buses and services to hospitals, particularly Ormskirk. It is clear that improvements could be made but Merseytravel operates with one hand tied behind their back due to not being able to operate services that compete with private providers.”
Cllr Page, councillor for Ravenmeols ward in Formby, added: “Buses are particularly relied upon by the young and the elderly, and people on lower incomes. They deserve a first class service. London residents have one. Merseyside deserves one too.”
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