First bus services "inadequate and expensive" (Norwich Liberal Democrats Online)

Norwich Liberal Democrats Online <info@norwichlibdems.org.uk>

First bus services "inadequate and expensive"

November 29, 2006 12:00 AM

Liberal Democrat, Cllr Judith Lubbock, said: "The inadequate and expensive service the people of Norwich and greater Norwich get from First is one issue which unites people across the Norwich area." Seconding a motion at the Norwich City Council meeting on 28th November, Cllr Lubbock welcomed the opportunity to join with Labour in voicing peoples' concern over the service provided by First. "This motion is one way of standing up for people," she said.

The motion, which was passed unanimously by councillors, is asking FIRST to co-operate in a Scrutiny investigation by members of the four Councils of South Norfolk, Broadland, Norwich City and Norfolk County. The investigation to cover such issues as reliability, pricing and accessibility of their services.

Following on from such an investigation it is envisaged that The Norwich Partnership can develop a bus strategy with the objective of improving the bus services.

"However all of the above depends on the co-operation of FIRST to work with the Local Authorities in a Partnership to improve services," explained Cllr Lubbock. "We are dependent on their willingness to improve their service and reputation. Local Authorities do not have the power to enforce any conditions on FIRST and I am concerned that the public do not get the idea that we have such powers.

"We should therefore lobby for the Government to evolve a new set of powers and financial freedoms that would make it possible to improve the quality of transport while strengthening local economic development. This would mean future decisions over bus services would be made locally, and would be in line with the current powers that the Transport for London has to set routes, service levels and quality of provision. TfL have achieved a 38% increase in bus usage in London since 2000, while most usage outside London has been falling."