Nottingham City Transport (NCT) Managing Director David Astill (pictured, right) has underlined the bus industry’s need for better priority measures after recently installed minister for the sector, Under-Secretary of State for Transport Simon Lightwood (pictured, left), was hosted by the operator.
Mr Lightwood’s first official visit in that capacity saw him travel to NCT on 18 July. He was joined by East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward and Nottingham City Council Leader and Executive Member for Strategic Regeneration, Transport and Communications Cllr Neghat Khan.
While the new government has made clear that its position on bus services majors on greater public control and franchising, municipally owned NCT was able to share with the minister how partnership working between operators and local authorities in Nottingham has delivered the second-highest rate of bus use per resident in the UK outside London.
Mr Astill says that the biggest challenge faced by NCT is “fighting through roadworks and congestion.” He adds that further bus priority measures are essential if the operator is “to continue to provide services that are seen as a real alternative to travelling by car.”
During the visit of the minister, NCT’s MD also underlined to Mr Lightwood the importance of further support for the purchase of zero-emission bus fleets. The municipal has begun its journey to zero-emission with a batch of Yutong battery-electrics and Mr Lightwood was hosted at Trent Bridge depot, where those buses are based.
They have been part-funded by the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme. “I emphasised to the minister and the Mayor the importance of keeping those funding streams open so NCT can assist our great City of Nottingham in achieving its [Carbon Neutral Nottingham 2028] aspirations,” adds Mr Astill.
It remains to be seen whether a third phase of ZEBRA is forthcoming under the new government, although some sources within the wider industry believe it will be.
While Mr Lightwood notes that partnership-based efforts in Nottingham are “a shining example of how we can fix the broken bus system,” he underlined during his visit to NCT that provision to be included within the Better Buses Bill is key to Labour’s aspirations for the mode in England.
“The Better Buses Bill will create and save vital bus routes across the country as we give every community the power to take back control of their buses and deliver better and more affordable services.”
Although Ms Ward is a Labour Mayor, she has been less vocal in support of bus franchising than other Combined Authority leaders that represent the party.
Prior to election in May, she pledged to “get a grip” of buses and other transport items via partnership with operators, although if suitable progress is not made via that approach, then services will be taken back into public control.
