Latest news with #BusServiceBill
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
MP slams local bus services as 'unreliable'
A Labour MP has slammed bus services in her constituency as "unreliable" and "inaccessible". Cramlington and Killingworth's Emma Foody surveyed hundreds of constituents which found broad dissatisfaction with services in the area. Speaking in the House of Commons, Foody said the government's upcoming Bus Services Bill needed to put passengers "back in the driving seat". Leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, said the bill would devolve more powers locally to improve transport options. "The villages and towns across my Cramlington and Killingworth constituency rely heavily on our bus services," Foody said. "Despite this, my Big Bus Survey that I've been running recently shows that local people too often have found buses to be unreliable, inaccessible and they don't take them to the places they need to go." Powell replied the Bus Service Bill will give local areas the power to have "affordable and reliable bus services". The bill will give local authorities control over routes, timetables, connections and fares, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. It will also lift the ban on councils establishing their own bus companies and ensure that lifeline bus services cannot be removed or changed without councils reviewing their ability to serve communities. "I have seen what happens with local areas like mine in Manchester having those powers," Powell said. "It has massively increased the number of people using bus services and has brought in extra funding from doing so." The Conservative Party has previously called on the government to explain how local authorities would fund the proposals. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Bus cuts will leave nurses stranded, union says Mayor 'pressing ahead' on public control of buses Department for Transport
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Call to fine 'headphone dodgers' who play music on buses
The Liberal Democrats are calling for fines of up to £1,000 for "headphone dodgers" who play loud music and videos on public transport. Current railway byelaws already ban many forms of anti-social behaviour on trains and at stations, including using equipment to produce sound without permission if this annoys others. However, the Lib Dems want to change the law to explicitly ban playing music and videos out loud from a phone on trains and buses in England. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "There are already strict rules in place to prevent anti-social behaviour on public transport, including possible fines of up to £1,000." The government is also introducing further measures to tackle anti-social behaviour on buses, including mandatory training for staff on how to respond to incidents. The idea has cross-party support, with some Labour and Tory MPs previously suggesting similar measures. However, without government support the Lib Dem proposals are unlikely to become law. Why do people play music in public through a phone? Loud music could be banned on buses in West Midlands A survey of more than 2,000 UK adults for the Lib Dems, conducted by Savanta, found 38% had experienced people playing music out loud often or sometimes. Some 54% of people would not feel comfortable asking someone to turn down their music on public transport, the findings suggest. The figure was higher for women (63%) then men (46%). The Lib Dems said they would try to amend the Bus Service Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament and is due to be debated by peers next week, to introduce the changes. The party said it also wanted existing railway byelaws to be amended to make clear playing music and videos out loud from a phone counts as unacceptable behaviour and should be punishable with a fine of up to £1,000. It said this should be accompanied by a national publicity campaign, including posters on train platforms and at bus stops. Currently passengers who breach bylaws can be removed from trains or stations, with a maximum fine of £1,000. Existing regulations also allow passengers to be removed from buses if they play sounds which are likely to annoy others. Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart said: "Far too many people dread their daily commute because of the blight of anti-social behaviour - and headphone dodgers playing loud music on buses and trains are some of the worst offenders. "Whether you're heading to work, taking your kids to school, or simply trying to enjoy a moment of peace, everyone deserves to feel safe and respected on public transport." She added: "It's time to take a stand for the quiet majority who just want to get from A to B in peace." Conservative shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon said: "Playing loud music on public transport may seem like a small thing, but it speaks towards a growing tolerance of anti-social behaviour that chips away at public civility." He added that the Conservative Party supports "common-sense reforms like this" but "any new byelaws must be backed by stepping up enforcement - something the Liberal Democrats' plan fails to deliver". Reform UK and the Green Party have been approached for comment. Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Call to fine 'headphone dodgers' who play music on buses and trains
The Liberal Democrats are calling for fines of up to £1,000 for "headphone dodgers" who play loud music and videos on public transport. Current railway byelaws already ban many forms of anti-social behaviour on trains and at stations, including using equipment to produce sound without permission if this annoys the Lib Dems want to change the law to explicitly ban playing music and videos out loud from a phone on trains and buses in England. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "There are already strict rules in place to prevent anti-social behaviour on public transport, including possible fines of up to £1,000." The government is also introducing further measures to tackle anti-social behaviour on buses, including mandatory training for staff on how to respond to incidents. The idea has cross-party support, with some Labour and Tory MPs previously suggesting similar measures. However, without government support the Lib Dem proposals are unlikely to become law. A survey of more than 2,000 UK adults for the Lib Dems, conducted by Savanta, found 38% had experienced people playing music out loud often or sometimes. Some 54% of people would not feel comfortable asking someone to turn down their music on public transport, the findings suggest. The figure was higher for women (63%) then men (46%). The Lib Dems said they would try to amend the Bus Service Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament and is due to be debated by peers next week, to introduce the changes. The party said it also wanted existing railway byelaws to be amended to make clear playing music and videos out loud from a phone counts as unacceptable behaviour and should be punishable with a fine of up to £1,000. It said this should be accompanied by a national publicity campaign, including posters on train platforms and at bus stops. Currently passengers who breach bylaws can be removed from trains or stations, with a maximum fine of £1,000. Existing regulations also allow passengers to be removed from buses if they play sounds which are likely to annoy others. Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart said: "Far too many people dread their daily commute because of the blight of anti-social behaviour - and headphone dodgers playing loud music on buses and trains are some of the worst offenders."Whether you're heading to work, taking your kids to school, or simply trying to enjoy a moment of peace, everyone deserves to feel safe and respected on public transport."She added: "It's time to take a stand for the quiet majority who just want to get from A to B in peace." Conservative shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon said: "Playing loud music on public transport may seem like a small thing, but it speaks towards a growing tolerance of anti-social behaviour that chips away at public civility."He added that the Conservative Party supports "common-sense reforms like this" but "any new byelaws must be backed by stepping up enforcement - something the Liberal Democrats' plan fails to deliver". Reform UK and the Green Party have been approached for comment. Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hull to receive £3.9m funds for 42 new green buses
Hull City Council has been allocated £3.9m of government funding for 42 new zero-emission buses. The Department for Transport (DfT) said the green vehicles, which are expected to be operational in the city by spring 2027, would "make bus travel cleaner, greener and more comfortable". It is part of a wider £37.5m investment to fund 319 new vehicles across England, with Hull among 12 authorities benefitting from the scheme. Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, who is due to visit the city later to announce the plans, said the funding would also create jobs, support local economies and "accelerate the journey towards a zero-emission future". "By backing local councils and UK manufacturers, we are putting the power in the hands of communities, while helping to deliver on our vision of a sustainable, green transport network," said Lightwood. The investment comes as the Bus Service Bill, which aims to give control back to local authorities, progresses through Parliament. Last month, Hull City Council approved £7.6m of DfT funding to improve its bus services, which includes increasing frequency on all key routes, installing up to 30 new bus shelters and improving accessibility. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Electric buses and new services for Hull Hull approves £7.6m funds to improve bus services Electric buses Hull City Council
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Hull City Council to receive £3.9m funds for 42 new green buses
Hull City Council has been allocated £3.9m of government funding for 42 new zero-emission Department for Transport (DfT) said the green vehicles, which are expected to be operational in the city by spring 2027, would "make bus travel cleaner, greener and more comfortable".It is part of a wider £37.5m investment to fund 319 new vehicles across England, with Hull among 12 authorities benefitting from the Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, who is due to visit the city later to announce the plans, said the funding would also create jobs, support local economies and "accelerate the journey towards a zero-emission future". "By backing local councils and UK manufacturers, we are putting the power in the hands of communities, while helping to deliver on our vision of a sustainable, green transport network," said investment comes as the Bus Service Bill, which aims to give control back to local authorities, progresses through month, Hull City Council approved £7.6m of DfT funding to improve its bus services, which includes increasing frequency on all key routes, installing up to 30 new bus shelters and improving accessibility. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
