No formal analysis has been done on bringing buses in the greater Bristol region under public control despite the Metro Mayor’s claims to the contrary. Dan Norris, the West of England Metro Mayor, previously said that bus franchising was “under review”.
Bus franchising would see the West of England Combined Authority have much greater powers and oversight over the region’s bus network. The model has been used in London for decades and is being introduced in Greater Manchester.
Responding to growing local calls for franchising, Mr Norris previously claimed the model was “on the table”. But a new freedom of information request appears to contradict that statement, revealing that the West of England has not actually analysed the benefits franchising would bring.
