Dudley leader criticizes West Midlands mayor’s bus franchise plan, fearing £80M council cost.
The plan could leave councils with a big bill. The bill could reach £80 million, said council leaders. Cllr Patrick Harley strongly criticized this bus plan; he spoke at a meeting on February 26.
The new scheme puts buses under public control. Private companies would pay to run the bus routes. TfWM mentioned a £22.5 million cost for franchising, but Cllr Harley quickly disagreed with their figures. He stated that TfWM didn’t address all costs.
He believes councils will cover an £80 million cost. The West Midlands mayor, Richard Parker, created this plan. He heads the West Midlands Combined Authority. This authority includes Dudley and other councils.
Cllr Harley thinks passenger numbers may decrease, creating budget problems for councils. He wants TfWM to rework the money details. He accepts the idea but not the funding.
TfWM says they can adjust the bus network size, depending on available funds. They will control fares to manage costs. Franchising gives residents the best bus network for the budget.
Cllr Harley worried about service cuts. He feels councils will get blamed for any service changes. He believes now, others take the blame.
Committee chairman Cllr Shaun Keasey is also skeptical. He questions the plan’s long-term purpose. He thinks everyone will have electric cars by 2030 and suggested spending money on roads instead.