Andy Burnham has won a legal appeal over his plans to bring Greater Manchester's buses under public control by next year. Diamond Bus owner Rotala appealed a ruling by a judge earlier this year which gave the Greater Manchester mayor the green light for his sweeping reforms.
However, the Court of Appeal has today unanimously rejected the appeal and upheld the High Court's original decision. The mayor has hailed the ruling as "brilliant news for the people of Greater Manchester".
In the franchising scheme, which is set to start in Wigan and Bolton next year before serving the whole city-region by the end of 2024, bus operators would bid to run services, giving local leaders control of fares and ticketing. They would be the first outside London to have this power in more than 30 years – and other regions are looking to follow suit with government support.
The mayor's plans to bring buses back under public control for first time since 1986 was set in motion five years ago, but faced a legal challenge by bus firms. In March, a judge dismissed claims by bus firms Stagecoach and Rotala that Mr Burnham's decision, and the process followed, were 'unlawful' and 'irrational'.
Since then, the mayor's office has been pressing ahead with plans to launch the Bee Network - the integrated London-style transport system which Mr Burnham is creating with the government's backing - by September 17, 2023. This includes announcing a new flat fare structure of £2 fares for adults and £1 for children travelling on a single journey and £5 day tickets for all operators.
Mr Burnham has also proposed introducing these cheaper fares by the end of the summer before it is under his control, subject to bus operators' agreement. However, Rotala appealed the judicial review.
But today, in a statement issued following the judge's ruling, Mr Burnham said: "This is brilliant news for the people of Greater Manchester – and for anyone across the UK who cares about having a bus service that puts people ahead of shareholder profit.
"We were always very confident that GMCA had followed all correct legal processes and that the decision to franchise buses and bring them under public control was lawful and right. We’re delighted that we have comprehensively defeated the last legal challenge in the way of bringing buses under public control. The Court of Appeal’s judgment upholds the original decision of the High Court and unanimously rejects this appeal as without any merit.
"Throughout two separate consultations, the Greater Manchester public told us that they wanted buses bringing under public control and run for the benefit of the people; and it's frustrating that this legal action has been pursued to prevent this going ahead. So I’m delighted that the court has dismissed all the operator’s arguments and has awarded all costs in our favour.
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"We have already started to deliver the bus service that the people of Greater Manchester want and deserve. From 1 September this year, we’re introducing capped single bus fares of £2 for adults and £1 for children and a £5 day ticket, which will simplify the confusing, complicated and expensive set of tickets and fares we currently have across the city-region. We’re also investing in 220 zero emission buses, with 50 of those as part of the first phase of franchising in Wigan, Bolton and parts of Salford from September 2023. The second and third phases of franchising will be Bury, Rochdale and parts of North Manchester in Spring 2024; and the final phase will cover Stockport, Trafford, Tameside and South Manchester by end of 2024.
"This clear and unanimous judgment is another green light which means that we can now power ahead at full speed to deliver bus franchising across Greater Manchester as part of our Bee Network: an integrated, accessible and affordable ‘London-style’ transport system joining together buses, trams, cycling and walking.
"And I hope that the unanimous rejection of this appeal paves the way for other city regions such as Liverpool City Region and South Yorkshire to progress with their ambitions to bring buses under public control."
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