This week, the Scottish Parliament held a final debate on the proposed Transport (Scotland) Bill. Scottish Labour used the passage of the Bill to pressure the Scottish Government to lift its ban on local authority ran bus services.

Although the SNP voted against Labour’s successful changes to the Bill at Stage 2 to give local authorities the power to run bus services, it has now conceded defeat and agreed to uphold the decision when the proposed Transport (Scotland) Bill came before the Scottish Parliament again

The package of reforms will see the ban on councils running bus services fully lifted.

Similar to her approach in tackling the significant rail service failings in the area, Jackie Baillie will be guided by the needs of her local residents when calling for better bus services in her constituency. A consultation with local bus users will highlight whether there is a desire for new, council-run bus services in the constituency of Dumbarton.

Jackie Baillie said:

“As with everything that I do, my priority is the needs of my constituents. That’s why I will be speaking directly to them to understand what services they feel are required in their local communities.

“Whether you travel by car, bus or rail, this SNP Government have been failing to deliver for my constituents for over a decade. It is clear that it is simply not capable of providing bus services that local, especially rural, communities desperately need.

“It is time for a complete overhaul of the current system and I look forward to our Council being able to provide bus services in future.”