Metro mayor Dan Norris has been criticised for failing to condemn this week’s rail strikes. The Labour leader of the West of England Combined Authority (Weca), which is the region's strategic transport authority, has “refused to lay any blame at the feet of the unions”, say South Gloucestershire Council Conservatives.
Mr Norris has blamed the Tory Government’s “woeful lack of planning” and “serious dereliction of duty” that has led to train services axed and industrial relations at an “all-time low”. It comes ahead of a third day on Saturday (June 25) of a national rail strike by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail and 13 train operators, including Great Western Railway, following walkouts and picket lines on Tuesday and Thursday over pay and redundancies.
Services from Bristol Temple Meads and stations across the country have been severely disrupted, with about one in five trains running. South Gloucestershire Council cabinet member for transport Cllr Steve Reade said Weca bore responsibility for working with transport providers to keep local public services moving and championing the needs of residents and commuters.
