West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority votes to develop Quality Bus Contracts

Nov 23 2009 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

COUNCILLORS have voted unanimously in favour of shaking up the way bus services are run in West Yorkshire.

Members of all parties on the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority voted to back work to develop a Quality Bus Contract Scheme at their meeting in Leeds.

Lib Dem councillor Ryk Downes, who chairs the authority, said: “Our role is to work on behalf of local people.

“We need to be able to deliver the reliable services which the people of West Yorkshire want, need and deserve.

“We need to take action that will prevent bus operators making unjustified cuts to services and blaming fare rises on fuel prices, despite them having already bought fuel at hedged prices, which happened in West Yorkshire earlier this year.”

Labour member Clr Mick Lyons said: “It’s unfortunate we have come to this, but the only way to make sure buses serve the people of West Yorkshire is to introduce Quality Contracts.

“We need to pursue this work and continue lobbying MPS of all parties,” he added.

The authority’s Conservative leader said: “The bus services being provided are not meeting people’s needs and passengers have been let down and overcharged.