Law firm Stone King says the possibility of the introduction of bus franchising in and around Bath as part of the West of England devolution deal creates huge uncertainty for operators and could threaten jobs.
The devolution settlement includes £100m of transport funding over the next five years and new powers to devolve transport budgets and franchise local bus services.
Under government proposals, local transport authorities would take responsibility for planning and specifying services with bus operators bidding to provide these services.
But lawyer Peter Woodhouse, who heads the transport team at Stone King, says this could have major significance for local bus companies and their employees.
“If a bus operator is unsuccessful in their bid then they can’t operate on that particular network,” said Mr Woodhouse who acts for bus firms across the region.
“This raises the question of what will happen to the owners and employees of companies who are unsuccessful?
“A lifetime’s work and expertise running well-established services may be rubbed out overnight and the employment of many could be at risk. Bus operators may have to let experienced employees go just because they are no longer required by the local authority.”
Mr Woodhouse added that much of what is being proposed in the government’s Bus Services Bill, such as greater partnership working and improving information for passengers, is already being actively pursued.
“So where will the differences be achieved when it comes to getting people out of their cars and onto buses? Reducing congestion is the key to this but it’s not a central part of the proposals.”