New Buses Bill Empowers Local Control of Services

The Labour government in England is advancing a 'bus revolution' aimed at taking control of bus services from private operators and returning them to public ownership. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has introduced a new Buses Bill that empowers local transport authorities to run their own bus services, a move seen as a response to decades of deregulation and service decline. In the North East, Mayor Kim McGuinness is optimistic that the new legislation will expedite her plans for a publicly-controlled bus network, the 'Angel Network', despite the complexity of the legal processes involved. The government is also launching consultations to simplify guidance, aiming to reduce barriers and costs for local authorities. Meanwhile, Exeter City Council's leader has urged Devon County Council to leverage these new powers to enhance bus services, reflecting widespread community demand for better transport options. Overall, the initiative seeks to enhance accountability, improve service reliability, and reinvigorate local transport systems across the country.