Weston LibDems speak out on bus cuts.
Cllr John Crockford Hawley, Chair of the Place Panel, has spoken out about the latest cuts to services announced by first bus. We are all disappointed to read that First has decided to withdraw some of its rural bus service in the autumn. Even more disappointing is the sudden manner in which this news broke. First doesn't engage with local councils before making this sort of statement since its priority is to shareholders rather than to the travelling public. I believe the rot set in when Mrs Thatcher de-regulated and privatised the bus networks throughout the UK, leaving the Mayoralty of London as the only local authority with statutory regulatory powers over local transport. Public transport cannot survive using this now antiquated and disproven commercial model District and Parish Councillors in North Somerset and Somerset along with their Integrated transport officers are horrified at this decision by First to withdraw services, especially since here in North Somerset we have put so much effort and ti
