SME operator Squarepeg Buses will temporarily withdraw its fleet from service at 1000hrs on Thursday 16 July and travel in convoy to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) headquarters in Leeds to protest against the region’s franchising process.
Small operator disagreement with how franchising in West Yorkshire is being handled has been present for some time, but the Squarepeg approach is the most direct action yet.
The operator says the protest will highlight “a system that increasingly favours large national operators over successful local businesses, ultimately reducing competition and choice for passengers.”
WYCA has not yet publicly named any winners of bus franchise contracts. Squarepeg wants the authority to ensure that decisions on awards “place greater emphasis on proven operational performance, passenger satisfaction, and the contribution made by independent local operators to the communities they serve.”
The business adds that it has worked hard for 15 years to establish a strong reputation, and now carries thousands of passengers per day with one of the lowest complaint rates in the region.
“Despite this, the company is set to lose all of its [work] to larger operators, some of which trade under local names but are owned by national PLCs headquartered outside West Yorkshire,” the operator adds.
Squarepeg entered franchise contract tendering “following repeated assurances from WYCA during both the public consultation and procurement process that independent operators in West Yorkshire would not suffer the same fate as many of their counterparts in Greater Manchester.”
However, it believes that the outcome in West Yorkshire “appears to contradict those assurances, and raises serious questions about the future role of independent operators in the region.”
The business says that the franchising process in West Yorkshire places a disproportionate burden on SME bidders through complex procurement requirements, extensive paperwork, and significant bid costs. Those “are far easier for large organisations with dedicated bid writing, legal and compliance teams to absorb.”
In addition, Squarepeg alleges that contract packages are often difficult for smaller operators to bid for, while what it describes as “turnover restrictions and limited flexibility” further reduce scope for local incumbents to succeed.
It says that if SME operators in West Yorkshire disappear under franchising, the benefits of genuine competition will be lost, as will local knowledge and accountability. “This protest is not simply about Squarepeg losing contracts,” a spokesperson adds. “It is about who is standing up for passengers and local independent operators.
“For 15 years, we have delivered reliable services, met Metro’s standards, and invested in our communities. We were repeatedly assured that West Yorkshire would not follow the path taken in Greater Manchester and that independent operators would continue to play an important role.
“Sadly, the outcome appears to tell a different story. We believe that proven performance should count for more than the ability to produce a polished tender document.”
The operator acknowledges that the protest will inconvenience customers and says it has not taken the decision lightly.
“But unless concerns about the franchising process are heard now, we believe that the public could face fewer choices, less competition, and a bus network increasingly controlled by a handful of large operators. This protest is about protecting the future of local bus services and putting the passenger first.”
