Amanda Martin MP has written to Portsmouth City Council to urgently enquire as to whether it plans to use new powers to get a grip on bus services across Portsmouth.
Under the Conservatives, bus services in England’s regions outside London collapsed, with thousands of bus services cut, and almost 300 million fewer miles driven by buses per year since 2010. Across the South East, alone, bus miles declined by 13%.
Amanda Martin’s letter comes as the Labour Government introduces new legislation to make it easier for local authorities to hold private bus operators to account and improve service quality locally.
The Buses Services Bill, soon to be introduced to the House of Commons, will expand the power to ‘franchise’ bus services – as seen successfully in Greater London and Greater Manchester – to all local transport authorities.
The Bill will revolutionise the bus network in the largest overhaul to local transport powers in 40 years.
The plans would grant LTAs greater control over the routes, fares and service levels of bus services, with private operators bidding for contracts to operate franchises.
The package of measures would also reverse the ideological ban on publicly owned bus companies, prohibited in law since 2017, giving local authorities more flexibility on how to approach fixing local services.
Commenting, Amanda Martin said: “I have today written to Portsmouth City Council to get answers – do they plan on using the new powers in the Bus Services Bill to deliver better bus services for my constituents?
“For too long, my constituents have been let down by unaccountable private bus operators. I am delighted that the Labour Government understands the importance of local bus networks, but we will only see improvements if Portsmouth choose to adopt these new powers.
“I urge Portsmouth City Council to seriously consider what steps are available to them, and I look forward to their response.”
