Poor bus services a 'headache' for passengers

Bus services must be improved to help people travel to work and school, MP Mary Kelly Foy says

Lengthy delays and cancellations to bus services have been described as an "absolute headache" for passengers.

City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy says some services are "often 45 minutes late" reaching villages in her constituency.

Speaking in the House of Commons, the Labour MP called for assurances that the government would bring bus services back into public control as quickly as possible.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said measures unveiled recently were designed to empower local leaders to take control of services.

Foy told the Commons: "Bus services in the city of Durham are an absolute headache for my constituents.

"Buses are often 45 minutes late in villages such as West Rainton.

"The Labour mayor of the North East and I want to crack on and deliver our manifesto promise to bring buses back into public control.

"Can the Secretary of State assure me that the Better Buses Bill will allow us to enfranchise buses sooner rather than later, and will she meet the mayor and me to discuss the bus situation in Durham?"

Haigh replied: "The Better Buses Bill is designed exactly to help authorities such as the North East Combined Authority.

"I have met the mayor on a number of occasions to discuss how we can ensure that the franchising process is sped up so that we can deliver better bus services much more quickly."

'Proper say'

Meanwhile, fellow Labour MP Emma Lewell-Buck, of South Shields, urged the transport secretary to prioritise local voices when making improvements to services.

"When the previous government axed over 1,000 bus routes, local communities were completely ignored," she told the Commons.

"As she rebuilds our bus network, can she assure me that the Better Buses Bill will make provision to fully include local voices, not just the voices of those in elected positions?"

Haigh said the bill would "give local people a proper say on the routes and services that they absolutely depend on".

Earlier this year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said public confidence in the county's bus service was at an "all-time low" due to timetable changes and cost-cutting measures by operators.