Election Express: Cross-Party Candidates Urge Dan Norris to Steer Bus Franchising

Parliamentary candidates across political parties, including Green, Liberal Democrat and Social Democratic Party have signed an open letter calling for buses in the West of England to come into public control.  Prominent signatories include Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, and parliamentary candidate for Bristol Central.

Since the open letter was first launched, significant developments have emerged, in particular the announcement of the upcoming general election.  Notably, Metro Mayor Dan Norris is standing as the Labour parliamentary candidate for Hanham and North East Somerset, against incumbent Jacob Rees-Mogg. If Dan Norris is successful, he intends to maintain both roles. 

The open letter called for Dan Norris to initiate a formal investigation of bus franchising without waiting for the general election.  This formal investigation has already taken place in a number of Mayoral authorities, examples include:

• Greater Manchester: publicly controlled buses started operating September 2023

• Liverpool: Decided to franchise buses October 2023

• West Yorkshire: Decided to franchise buses 14 March 2024

• South Yorkshire: Investigation recommended that buses should be franchised , March 2024

• Glasgow: Strathclyde Partnership for Transport approved plans to establish local bus franchising in March 2024

• Wales: Legislation to introduce bus franchising to be introduced to Senedd

Civil society organisations representing healthcare, youth, older people and climate action, and local councillors have also signed the open letter. This letter accompanies a public petition which has attracted nearly 4000 signatures.

Steps to bus franchising in England:

1. Formal investigation of bus franchising - this gives Metro Mayor access to commercial bus operator data, and provides an informed business case for or against franchising in the area.

2. Public consultation - 12 week public consultation on franchising

3. Decision by Metro Mayor 

4. Setting up new publicly controlled bus system

Labour’s manifesto includes positive commitments to enable all local governments to begin franchising their buses - something that is currently only available to city regions in England (including West of England Combined Authority Mayor Dan Norris).  If Dan Norris was elected as an MP, he may have further avenues to push for bus franchising at the national level.  For example, Dan Norris has cited the lack of precepting powers (local tax-raising such as the council tax contribution to policing) as a barrier to bus franchising.  However, his track record in taking decisive action for franchising so far leaves much to be desired, for example the report on franchising promised in September has yet to materialise, despite two Freedom of Information requests by campaign group Reclaim our Buses.

Reclaim our Buses campaigner Anna Mounteney said:

“The people of the West of England suffer daily from a failing public transport system. We face a severe lack of bus infrastructure, with inadequate bus lanes and stops lacking basic amenities like timetables and seating. The issue of 'ghost buses'—buses that never turn up—leads to acute unreliability and distrust in the bus system. This creates a negative spiral where declining bus usage signals further reductions in service quality.”

Enroute Volunteer Commented:

“This is both a local and a national issue. Buses are not working for residents either in rural or urban areas outside of London, and the West of England is no exception. I find it incredible how difficult it is to take the bus in Urban Bristol, but especially within the North Fringe area of Filton, Patchway and Bradley Stoke, to get anywhere that isn't Bristol City centre, or a key node that just so happens to be on your local bus corridor. For example, from my house in Filton Park, to get to key destinations such as Bradley Stoke Tesco, UWE or Bristol Parkway Station, it requires either taking and paying for 2 buses (which aren't guaranteed to be within the same operator ecosystem) or taking an hourly service that is indirect. This does not entice people out of their cars. Bus franchising allows bus companies to operate buses that connect secondary transport nodes (which may operate at a negligible loss) like these to provide connectivity, and fares that take into account that a journey might consist of multiple buses.”