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.
READ MORE: First Bus boss ‘not satisfied with Bristol’s bus services’
The freedom of information request was sent by Matthew Topham, a facilitator at the Reclaim Our Buses campaign coalition, who said passengers would be “furious” to find out that the Metro Mayor’s claims were “not even true”.
Mr Topham said: “Passengers have had enough. For the last fortnight, they've been sending videos to the Metro Mayor asking him to start a formal investigation into bus franchising at the next mayoral meeting on March 17.
“These videos have included heartbreaking stories of children pulled out of school because the linking bus has been cut, and workers left to pay several hours' wages on taxis as they can't rely on buses to get them home safely. Given the bravery of these passengers to share their stories, the mayor's dismissive response, saying that franchising was already on the table and 'remained under ongoing review' was upsetting.
“To know now that this wasn't even true has left passengers furious. That's why we're renewing our calls for the region's leaders to deliver on the Mayor's claim and start the franchising process at their meeting on March 17.”
The freedom of information request asked for documents assessing and comparing the benefits and costs of bus franchising, and enhanced partnership schemes. An enhanced partnership scheme is already in place in the West of England, which sees the combined authority working with operators like First Bus, but with much less regulation than franchising.
The response to the freedom of information request from the West of England said: “The authority has not carried out any formal analysis on the benefits and costs of bus franchising and enhanced partnership schemes.”
Despite not actually carrying out any formal analysis of bus franchising, Mr Norris said that the model “was and remains on the table”. But he added that franchising was “not a magic bullet”, and the region would still suffer from a shortage of bus drivers.
Mr Norris said: “Creating a thriving bus network for passengers — one that is high quality, affordable and, most importantly, reliable — is a big, big priority for me. But I recognise the buses are not working as well as they need to, and that’s why we need innovative solutions.
“I’ve always said franchising is very much part of this conversation; it was and remains on the table. But it’s not a magic bullet that once fired makes everything alright overnight. The biggest issue we face on the buses is the severe bus driver shortage. Greater Manchester, which is moving towards a franchised bus system — something I’m following closely — also has driver shortages.
“I’m gripping these issues through brand-new driver recruitment and training programmes led by my West of England Mayoral Authority, and I’m proud to have brought forward a £7 million package of big bus improvements which will mean communities right across our region can enjoy more regular buses come April.
“Right now, I would encourage residents to use the buses to help me create a virtuous circle of more fare income and so more cash to reinvest in even better buses. It’s also absolutely vital in ensuring we reach our ambitious West of England net-zero-by-2030 target.”
The West of England is now unique in being the country’s only Labour-led combined authority which is not formally exploring bus franchising. The government gave combined authorities the power to introduce franchising as part of the Bus Services Act 2017, and the first franchised buses will start running in Greater Manchester later this year.
Last week, shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said Labour would extend franchising powers across the country — which currently only exist in combined authorities — if the party won the next general election, expected next year.
She said: “Almost nowhere else in the developed world hands powers to private operators to pick whatever routes they want and set whatever fares they choose. For years, people have said we need to fix that. Labour in government will do that, and Labour in power is already doing it.”
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