Better Transport

3 November: Local authorities will soon have new powers to improve buses, but the guidance on using these is long, complex and offputting. We've told the Government to improve it - otherwise local authorities and bus companies will never  sort out buses.

In response to a Government consultation, we've argued that guidance on partnerships should be simple but comprehensive, covering competition law and practical issues in one document. We'd also like to see a short booklet that encourages local authorities and gives them an overview of how the new powers can help them to improve bus networks. Finally, we'd like the Government to collect case studies so that local authorities can look at what has worked elsewhere and copy it.