CAMPAIGNERS with the Better Buses for Strathclyde campaign have held a demonstration outside the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) offices in Glasgow.
We previously told how the campaign is calling for buses to be taken into public control for the first time in nearly 40 years and end the “chaos” of deregulation.
The group wants to see SPT follow the lead of Manchester, which only recently launched the Bee Network and sees the local authority set fares, timetables and routes.
Since December 4, local transport authorities have been given new powers under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 to run bus services again.
Campaigner Ellie Harrison previously told The National: “Franchising is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to be able to take the buses back into public control since they were first deregulated in 1986.
“It is an opportunity to start to undo the damage that has been caused by bus deregulation.
“What we’re asking for is that SPT uses these powers – it’s a lengthy process to do the franchising – to basically look at all of the bus services in the region, decide where they want the services to go, the frequency of the services and set the timetables.”
A number of campaigners gathered outside the SPT offices on Friday to spread their message.
It comes after we told how a disabled man had also written to the Scottish Government in a bid to improve services for those living with disabilities.
An SPT spokesperson said it is developing a Strathclyde Regional Bus Strategy (SRBS) to invest in the future of buses.
“Initial findings of the SRBS have highlighted sustained patronage decline, shrinking network coverage, congestion induced delays, and above inflation fare increases, to be amongst the key issues and this has been set out in SPT’s Case for Change report,” the spokesperson said.
All images: Gibson Digital
