Picture: Cllr Sam Bromiley, Leader of the Conservative Group
South Gloucestershire Council’s Labour Co-Leader must confront the regional mayor over the poor state of bus services, Conservatives say.
The council’s opposition Conservative Group has thrown down the gauntlet to Cllr Ian Boulton, the council’s Labour Co-Leader, following a string of controversial decisions by WECA Mayor Dan Norris to cut frontline bus services, and following Cllr Boulton’s new appointment as the council’s representative on WECA.
On Thursday (25 July) Cllr Sam Bromiley, Leader of the Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council, wrote a letter to Cllr Boulton and Liberal Democrat Cllr Chris Willmore, highlighting the poor state of public transport services across the region and calling for immediate solutions.
With Labour’s Cllr Ian Boulton having taken over as the council’s new representative on the West of England Combined Authority’s Committee, Cllr Boulton will be working hand-in-glove with his Labour mayoral colleague under the umbrella of a national Labour government.
Cllr Bromiley has urged Cllr Boulton to use his influence within his party, through his new position as South Gloucestershire’s representative on WECA, to get a better deal on bus services for local residents.
Addressing Cllr Boulton directly, Cllr Bromiley wrote: “I urge you, on behalf of all communities across South Gloucestershire, to use your influence to ensure the WECA Mayor understands his responsibilities towards our residents and finds a long term funding solution to the 458 Winterbourne Academy service, as well as to other bus services previously, and unnecessarily, cut by the mayor. From today, this must be one of your top priorities.”
Cllr Bromiley recognised the efforts made by Liberal Democrat Cllr Chris Willmore to retain some bus services – but acknowledged that, ultimately, the final decision on issues relating to public transport rests with the Labour WECA Mayor. He urged Cllr Willmore to use her substantial influence on the council’s Cabinet to put pressure on her Labour coalition colleagues to stand up to the WECA Mayor and ensure he prioritises spending on key bus services.
Cllr Sam Bromiley said: “Decisions on public transport rest with the West of England Combined Authority and it’s current Labour Mayor. This council’s joint Liberal Democrat/Labour coalition must therefore do all it possibly can to lobby the WECA Mayor for better bus services in South Gloucestershire – anything less will be a dereliction of duty.
“Public transport in the West of England is a Labour Party problem and Cllr Boulton now has an historic opportunity to use his influence to work with the WECA Mayor to get a better deal for residents.
“Bus services desperately need to improve and it’s now down to Cllr Boulton to play his part in persuading the WECA Mayor to fix them – and his Lib Dem coalition partners must hold him to account every step of the way.”
