Reducing fares and improving punctuality were the top two priorities for the B&NES Bus Expert Improvement Panel (BEIP) over the last year according to local councillors.
The BEIP was set up by the Liberal Democrat administration on B&NES Council to improve the working relationship between operators and the Council.
Now, this improved co-operation is bearing fruit as the results of the First Bus fare review, which the BEIP secured, are about to be published.
Councillor Lisa Brett (Liberal Democrat, Walcot) is vice-Chair of the Council’s panel on Planning, Transport and Housing. Lisa commented:
“We set up the Bus Expert Improvement Panel to help improve the communication and the working relationship between bus operators and the Council. When we secured the commitment from First to hold a fares review, we were clear that we wanted fares for our area brought into line with recent changes in Bristol.
“I look forward to hearing an update from First about their plans at Monday’s panel meeting and I look forward to working with First to promote the new fares pilot over the summer. I feel that the three-stop-hop ticket would be particularly useful for residents who live at the tops of Bath’s hills.
“As a Liberal Democrat administration, we want to do everything we can to promote sustainable transport and increase the number of people who find that public transport is a convenient and affordable option for their journey”.
Councillor Roger Symonds (Liberal Democrat, Combe Down), the Council’s Member Champion for Public Transport, added:
“We must attract more people on to the buses if the fare reductions are to be sustainable and we know that the two most important issues for people who use the buses are cost and reliability. The Council can do its part to improve reliability and punctuality through improvements to road and junction layouts. These are included in the Council’s capital projects plans for the future.”
Steve Bradley, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Bath, added:
“The Liberal Democrat-run council has secured a great result here. Earlier this year, our Party ran a Bath bus survey, with a huge response. We have taken residents’ views to First, and are pleased that they have listened. Transport is Bath’s biggest challenge, and I’m proud that the Liberal Democrats are delivering on it.”
