Inverness councillor wants new bus powers for Highland Council
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THE chairman of an influential transport group has called for immediate research on the viability of a publicly operated Highland bus service.
Ness-side councillor Ron MacWilliam has written to members of the Highland Council redesign board to urge them to consider options for a Highland Council-owned bus service, after a proposed change in legislation.
In March 2018 Cllr MacWilliam, who is the chairman the Inverness Community Planning Partnership transport group, had previously called for immediate preparatory work to be undertaken by Highland Council while the Scottish Government’s Transport Bill was being debated at Holyrood.
The council decided to wait for the full outcome of the bill before committing to the work. The bill passed the final stage process on October 10.
Cllr MacWilliam has now written to the members of the Highland Council redesign board to urge them to act swiftly.
He said: “This new legislation will be a game-changer for Highland bus services if the council gets its act together and prepares to use the new powers they are about to possess.
“There are no definitive answers as yet, but route franchising, arms-length council bus services or even directly-run council bus operations are all now possible, as well as community bus schemes which already run successfully in some places.”
Cllr MacWilliam added: “The private operators have a difficult task seeking profit in the Highland market, yet people are crying out for more regular and better buses, so the demand is definitely there.
“From everything I hear from community planning partners and constituents, many people would be more inclined to use buses if the services were at all suitable for all their everyday needs.
“When we consider climate change and the congestion on parts of our road network it is imperative that we move away from motor car use and on to communal modes of transport as soon as possible.
“If the private sector can’t invest adequately to meet these needs the public sector will have to come in.
“The council is expected to lead that change and that is why I have today written to the council’s Redesign Board to urge them to move quickly on it.“
