Britain’s public transport network suffers from a lack of affordability, accountability and integration. In particular, local communities do not have as much influence as they would like over transport, particularly the vital bus and rail services on which many depend. Bus deregulation outside has left transport authorities with no ability to control fares or plan a coherent network of routes. The structure of the rail industry that resulted from privatisation has left a lack of accountability with communities unable to influence local services.
Cllr Mick Lerry said: “Labour understands that there are challenges facing communities as they seek to improve the affordability, accessibility and accountability of local rail and bus services, including:
• The need for greater accountability and control over local transport services.
• Increased integration of local bus and rail services.
• Ensuring that local transport is affordable.
• Enabling door to door journeys to be made through integration, and support for cycling and walking.”
In particular, passengers would benefit from the ability of a transport authority to introduce daily, weekly and monthly fare caps across local rail and bus services.
The case for a Transport Forum
“Communities should have the power to be able to regulate transport in their area through Transport Forums. The routes frequency and effectiveness of bus and rails services are of great economic, environmental and social importance to our communities enabling social inclusion, access to work and public services and other facilities as well as easing congestion/pollution. Rather than just being consulted by Somerset County Council on cuts to services”, says Mick.
Labour agrees that reform is needed to remove the barriers that local authorities face to implementing Quality Contracts.
Cllr Mick Lerry said: “In respect of buses, the use of ‘Quality Contracts’, made possible by the Local Transport Act 2008, introduced by the previous Labour Government is a real opportunity to repair some of the damage done by deregulation and give more control to communities. They would also give local authorities the power to set affordable prices.”
In future, all funding for bus services should be delivered through accountable transport authorities and used to secure a better deal for tax-payers and fare-payers from operators.
Most investment in transport is delivered through Network Rail and the Highways Agency and there is scope for giving communities a greater say over how this funding is allocated. Too often, decisions on local schemes are made in Whitehall, with little or no role for transport authorities except to lobby, which itself consumes time and money.
Integrated ticketing
The devolution of local rail services and new powers to regulate buses will enable local transport authorities and partnerships between them to plan a coherent local transport network. It opens up the potential for regionally branded networks, with integrated ticketing and timetables.
However, to make a reality of the new regional transport strategies, it is essential that more of the funding for investment is also devolved.
A proportion of the Highways Agency budget should be used to build separated cycling infrastructure, including separated cycle ways and safer junctions and road design, which Labour has supported.
Cllr Mick Lerry – Leader of the Labour Group on SDC
Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Bridgwater and West Somerset
Mobile: 07775905080
Email:michael.lerry@btinternet.com