Campaign welcomes devolution

Campaign for Better Transport (CfBT) has welcomed bills that would hand power over transport to city authorities in England, but calls for this to extend to other local authorities. Chief Executive, Campaign for Better Transport, Stephen Joseph, said, ‘The Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill together with the new Buses Bill, which will enable directly elected mayors to take responsibility for running their local buses, are welcome steps towards devolving power on transport down from Whitehall to the local level where decisions can be best taken to improve services. But these powers must extend further, including to rural areas, which have born the brunt of bus budget cuts.’

‘London-style devolved transport powers could bring the same kinds of service improvements from which that city has benefited to long-neglected cities in the North of England and elsewhere. However, it is important that transport devolution is not just confined to the big cities but spreads across the country bringing together a better, integrated transport network, crucially in rural areas. Ultimately, people will judge this plan to move powers from Whitehall to local authorities on whether they get the better local transport services they deserve.’