Welcome for council bus powers

Powers from the Transport (Scotland) Act will now be implemented, allowing local authorities across Scotland to run bus services in their communities as they see fit.

Councils had asked for inclusion of the ability to run their own services back when the Act was developed.

The Scottish Government has now delivered on this, allowing each local authority the option to do so – should they wish to.

Mr Dey said: “The provision of comprehensive, reliable local bus services is vital to both ensuring connected communities and increasing public transport uptake in response to the climate emergency.

“The delivery of these powers that councils wanted, enabling them to step in and guarantee that services address local needs, is an important move by the Scottish Government – part of its wider action to revitalise the network here in Angus and nationwide.”

Mr Dey also said that the move is part of a continuing programme of making bus travel more efficient and easier to access.

“This government is providing half a billion pounds in long term funding for bus priority infrastructure, has rolled out free bus travel to under 22s and is delivering significant investment to encourage a shift to zero-emission buses.

“Scotland has a world-leading target of reducing car kilometres by 20% by 2030, and this empowerment of local authorities where bus travel is concerned is another significant step towards realising that ambition”.