First Bus records £6.5 million profits while bus services decline
First Bus West of England has just published their company accounts for the financial year ending 2023, and announced a profit of £6.3 million. This news coincides with analysis showing a decline in frequency of bus services of over 50% in the West of England since 2010.
Bus services are vital for people who cannot drive for any reason - including young people and elderly and disabled people. Vital bus routes such as the 23 in Ashton Vale can be cut by commercial decisions by bus operators, cutting off vulnerable people, such as a couple with early onset dementia, from their familiar ways of getting around. At the other end of the age spectrum, only 40% of young people have a full driving licence in comparison to 74% of adults aged 16 or over (Transport to Thrive report). Young people are more reliant on public transport, and with cuts to buses are less able to make the trips they need to develop their skills and access employment and other opportunities.
Campaigners argue that the system needs to change. The Reclaim Our Buses group says that First Bus profits should be used to invest in a fully developed bus network, with affordable fares and high reliability, and that we need buses that allow people who don’t drive to live full lives, enable Bristol to keep up with other modern cities, and make it possible to have clean air and healthy lifestyles with less time stuck in traffic.
Reclaim Our Buses campaigner Peggy Woodward said:
“Dan Norris knows that the way forward is to franchise the buses. He’s met with Andy Burnham in Manchester to discuss it, but he’s still stalling, even though other Combined Authorities such as West Yorkshire are making progress. If Dan doesn’t start the formal investigation of bus franchising very soon, the West of England region will be left behind.”
A residents petition in support of public control of buses has reached nearly 3000 signatures: https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/take-west-of-england-buses-into-public-control
WESTACT Chair Emilia Melville said:
“Dan Norris’ job is to provide bold leadership to improve the lives of people in the West of England. We don’t understand why he’s stalling. Maybe he wants to use buses as a political football in the next general election, but even if Labour does get elected on a manifesto that includes public ownership of buses, it will take them years to implement this. Franchising the bus system lays the groundwork for making the most of any improvements in bus regulation following a general election, so Dan needs to take action now. He knows residents are angry about buses - nearly all the statements from the public at his meetings in the past year have been about bus cuts. All three of the unitary authorities will back franchising, so there is no reason not to go ahead with the investigation.”
Bobby Oliver from MobilityHub said
“The enhanced partnership between WECA and First needs to come to an end, to be replaced by something that will enable non-profit making bus services to continue, and for marginalised communities to have a say in what is provided for them. An investigation into franchising is a starting point for more public control.”
Amy, of XR Youth Bristol,
“Without taking back control of our bus network, it will be very difficult to create an affordable and fair bus system. Educational inequality in Bristol is stark and Bristol’s congested roads pollute our city. Buses can provide solutions but we need their focus to be beyond profit, looking to serve communities.”
Dr Nazanin Rassa, from Medact, said:
“It is vital for the health of everyone in Bristol that we urgently improve our buses and public transport. We need more accessible and reliable buses so that all people can safely move through our city. The links between good public transport and health are clear. We know better public transport will help take cars off our roads and reduce traffic density in urban areas. This would mean less air pollution, more people taking active routes to work or school and a reduction in avoidable respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses as well as a reduction in road traffic accidents. Improved buses would also mean improved mobility for the vulnerable folks in our communities making the city accessible to all and helping to address social isolation. This campaign is essential for a healthier, more sustainable Bristol.”
Notes:
First West of England company accounts reporting profit after taxation of £6.5million as at March 25th 2023: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00025088/filing-history
Friends of the Earth released new research on how Britain’s bus services have drastically declined: https://policy.friendsoftheearth.uk/insight/how-britains-bus-services-have-drastically-declined
Transport to Thrive report on the impact of transport cuts on young people: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/media/12919/transport-to-thrive-needs-of-young-people-november-2023.pdf
Medact: https://www.medact.org/
Reference British Medical Association. Healthy transport = healthy lives, July 2012. www.bma.org.uk/transport.
West Yorkshire public consultation on bus franchising
https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/busreform
Other linked news items:
https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/barriers-to-transport-leaving-young-people-behind/
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/andy-burnham-west-england-mayor-8784362
