Council Leader: now is the time to take back control of our bus services

Exeter City Council Leader Phil Bialyk has called on Devon County Council to use proposed new powers to transform bus services in the city.

Cllr Bialyk, a former bus driver, is calling on the transport authority to use new powers unveiled by the Transport Secretary to bring bus services in house.

Cllr Bialyk said he had been inundated with requests from communities in the city for a better and more reliable service.

“We have lots of problems at the moment,” he said.

“Pointing fingers isn’t going to help, but it is fair to say a lot of people are pretty fed up with both the service and how changes are consulted on with things like timetables and routes.

“Having a reliable and affordable bus service really is at the heart of so many parts of improving lives for residents in Exeter. So many other things hang on getting this sorted.

“Now there is nothing in their way, I want Devon to be one of the first to sort this for people.”

A package of measures to empower local leaders to take control of their bus services was unveiled by Transport Secretary Louise Haigh in what the government hopes will be the first stop on the journey to better buses.

Legislation laid before Parliament gives all local transport authorities across England new powers to run their own bus services – powers previously limited to mayoral combined authorities.

The move is designed to ensure local leaders across the country can deliver services in a way that suits the needs of their communities.

The government has also launched a consultation on new draft guidance to provide advice and support for local leaders looking to bring services into public control. It is intended to break down barriers to local control of bus services, speeding up the process and bringing down costs.

Cllr Bialyk said he is writing to Devon, as Leader of the City Council, to ensure they engage with the new powers to improve services in Exeter.

He said: “This really is a golden opportunity. I am urging Devon to work at pace and scale to deliver this for our residents.”