North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has raised concerns regarding the impact of the Welsh Government’s Bus Services (Wales) Bill on small businesses, rural communities and passengers in North Wales.
Questioning the Cabinet Secretary for Transport in this afternoon’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood warned that the changes could result in some operators being put out of business.
Speaking in the Senedd Chamber, he said:
“Small and medium-sized bus operators operating across North Wales are justifiably worried about the impact of your Bus Services (Wales) Bill on small businesses, rural communities and passengers, who simply want a reliable and affordable service.
“Although there's much talk in your Bill about designing services to benefit the passenger, Bus Users UK state ‘there is unfortunately little mention of consultation with passengers to provide services that meet their needs’.
“And although the exemption in the Bill for Community Transport services will enable demand-responsive services to continue, this will not be as part of a franchised network in a zone.
“Given your previous Statements that your franchise model will be different to that in Manchester, where Council Tax was increased to fund their scheme, how, evidentially, do you respond to concerns that your proposals risk driving small, family-run bus operators in North Wales out of business?”
In his response, the Cabinet Secretary insisted that “bus franchising provides a very positive future for the SME market in buses”.
