FORTY years of bus deregulation has failed passengers, a Labour election candidate has claimed.
Ben Watkins, who is hoping to win the Staffordshire County Council Lichfield Rural North seat in the vote on 1st May, said the night-time economy had also been hit by depleted public transport options in the local area.
The Labour candidate said it was not right that passengers wanting to catch the last bus from Lichfield to Cannock or Burntwood on a Saturday needed to be on board by 8.10pm while those heading for Shenstone or Sutton Coldfield face an even earlier last service at 7.15pm.
Mr Watkins said:
“Staffordshire County Council is responsible for funding bus services that aren’t profitable but fulfil an important social need. When the last bus from Lichfield to Burntwood is at 8.10 pm, you simply can’t say that the county council – run by the Conservatives since 2009 – is getting it right.
“With the last buses in Lichfield and Burntwood finishing by mid-evening, it means that it’s impossible to go for an evening meal and a drink in Lichfield by public transport.”
Mr Watkins said that a full reconsideration of bus deregulation was now needed to help reconnect communities.
“We have a patchwork of services and we have no sense that buses are there as a public amenity.
“I’ve met so many people who rely on public transport or who want to leave the car at home. But the county council doesn’t get its priorities right.
“There are pink minibuses [Lichfield District Council’s Link Up service] in Lichfield bus station to try to fill the gaps, but what people want is just ordinary buses that run at the times they need.
“Just look what Andy Burnham has done in Manchester with their Bee Network – cheaper fares and better services. A Labour county council working closely with the Government could transform travel in Staffordshire.”
Full list of candidates standing in Lichfield Rural North:
- Ben Watkins (Labour)
- Richard Holland (Conservatives)
- Morag Maclean (Lib Dem)
- John Madden (Reform)
Well said, Ben. You will make a great County Councillor and will work hard for all the residents of Boley Park, Streethay and Fradley. Your commitment and attention to detail will be a real asset to the County Council.
Sadly Evening Bus passengers in decline. Reason ..nothing to attract in Lichfield.
Maybe when new Cinema is ready?
This will change….
“Well said, Ben” No it’s not ! It’s only half a statement and so, so typical of wanna-be politicians..
To be anything meaningful this wanna-be should have declared what item of current funding he would cancel or reduce, so as to be able to subsidise a plethora of questionable bus services that could be a bottomless money pit.
CBrowne. Part of the reason bus use is in decline is that 1 in 5 new cars are registered to the mobility scheme, so a large part of what would have been core bus users have been removed from demand. Not sure how you get this idea that nothing exists to attract people to Lichfield. The pubs and restaurants are packed at the weekend. Many people then depart by taxi and uber. I do like this 1960s nostalgic vision of the masses waiting patiently in a cold que for the omnibus to take them home, at the end of a night out at the picture house. Perhaps electric cars will take car ownership out of reach for some people like in the past and drive a renaissance in bus patronage, who knows?