Transport campaigners held a rally outside a South Gloucestershire Council meeting to plead that local leaders tackle the crisis facing the region’s buses by taking them into public control. The activists also read out an open letter, signed by over 1500 West of England residents, in the council chamber.
The Reclaim Our Buses coalition hope that the protest yesterday (December 14) will encourage councillors to “light the way” on buses and encourage leaders in the region to push ahead with bus franchising. This comes as a bus franchising deal for the West of England has been backed in a key vote at Bristol City Council.
But ultimately decisions over buses in the region are made by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) headed by Metro mayor, Dan Norris. He said that “franchising is on the table” but that the biggest issue currently is the driver shortage.
