The Combined Authority's Transport and Infrastructure
Committee has unanimously recommended to
Dr , Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, that
franchising is the best way to reform the region's bus network.
The Committee met on Friday (January 24) to review findings of
the bus franchising consultation which concluded in November last
year. They were asked
to make a recommendation
to the Mayor on how best to reform the bus system.
The consultation
report was also reviewed on Monday (January 27) by the Combined
Authority's Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The
Combined Authority Board will further review the report and
consider its recommendation to the Mayor when it meets on
February 6. Mayor Dr Johnson will decide whether to introduce bus
franchising in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
More than 1,600 responses were submitted to The Combined
Authority's statutory bus franchising consultation, including
from residents, businesses, and other groups and organisations.
Running between Wednesday 14 August and Monday 25 November
2024, the consultation found there was substantial support for
franchising, alongside some concerns raised.
63 percent of responses
supported franchising while 12 percent opposed. Of those, 42
percent strongly supported, and 21 percent tended to support,
while five percent tended to oppose and a further seven percent
strongly opposed. 18 percent of responses neither supported nor
opposed.
The Committee heard that the Combined Authority has considered
all the consultation feedback, which has been reflected in the
Consultation Response.
The consultation underscored the vital role buses play in
connecting communities, supporting local economies, and reducing
social isolation. It also highlighted the risks of further
service decline if effective reforms are not implemented.
The consultation aimed to be comprehensive and inclusive.
Alongside online engagement, more than 30 face-to-face drop-in
events were held at busy locations across the region, including
town centres and bus stops in Huntingdon, Ely, Peterborough,
Northstowe, Wisbech, Cambridge, and St. Neots. These events
allowed residents to speak directly with the consultation team
and ask questions.
Cllr Anna , Deputy Mayor and Chair of the
Transport and Infrastructure Committee, said: “I'm
delighted the Committee has unanimously supported this
recommendation on a matter of such significance for our transport
future. The consultation process was both inclusive and thorough,
and the Committee has carefully considered all the feedback,
leading to the unanimous decision to recommend bus franchising.
Franchising offers the best opportunity to create a bus network
that truly works for the people of Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough, bringing the control, reliability and improvements
we need to achieve our vision for buses and for transport. As
many of our committee members pointed out, this is a very
important moment in our work on bus reform, and I look forward to
continuing the debate
and hearing further views at the Combined Authority Board.”
Notes to editor
1) To read the consultation report and Transport and
Infrastructure Committee papers, visit: https://democracy.cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=138&MId=126
