Julie Minns MP has backed the Labour Government’s transformative plans to deliver better local buses across Carlisle and North Cumbria.

The Buses Bill, currently being considered by Parliament, will expand the power to ‘franchise’ bus services – as seen successfully in Greater Manchester  and West Yorkshire – to all local authorities.

The Bill could revolutionise the bus network in the largest overhaul to local transport powers in 40 years. 

Julie Minns, MP for Carlisle and North Cumbria said: “This is great news for Carlisle and North Cumbria, where I regularly hear from residents who are frustrated by unreliable and infrequent buses.

“In my constituency, which contains rural communities, reliable, affordable, and regular bus services aren’t a luxury, they’re a lifeline.” 

Julie Minns MP is encouraging residents of Carlisle and North Cumbria to share their views on local buses and how they could be improved via a Better Buses survey.

The survey, launched by the Labour Party, runs for several weeks and gives residents the opportunity to share their specific frustrations with local bus services.

Minns said: “I’m keen to hear what’s working, and what isn’t, so we can build a better picture of what people in our community need.

“I’d be so grateful if you could take part in the survey, which is available at here.”

Under the Conservatives, bus services in England’s regions outside London collapsed, with thousands of bus services cut, and almost 300 million fewer miles driven by buses per year, since 2010.

Across Cumbria alone, bus miles declined by more than 20 percent.

The Better Buses Bill would grant transport authorities greater control over the routes, fares and service levels of bus services, with private operators bidding for contracts to operate franchises.  

The package of measures would also reverse the ideological ban on publicly owned bus companies, prohibited in law since 2017, giving local authorities more flexibility on how to approach fixing local services.   

The Bill follows a recent funding announcement of £ 5million to Cumberland Council to support local bus services, in addition to £2.5 million already received.

The investment has been designated to enhance popular routes, protect rural services and increase bus use for shopping, socialising and commuting.

It will help prevent service reductions on at-risk routes and improve punctuality, to bring an end to the current postcode lottery of unreliable services.  

Recent government funding for bus services across England represents a record level of investment, alongside once-in-a-generation reforms designed to deliver better services in every corner of the country.