Latest news with #SimonLightwood
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Security increased at vandalism-hit bus station
Security is to be increased at a city's main bus station in an effort to tackle anti-social behaviour, an MP has said. The action comes following incidents of vandalism and reports from passengers who said they felt unsafe using Wakefield Bus Station. The initiative would involve police and station security staff working in partnership to provide a visible deterrent to criminals and reassurance to station users and staff, according to Simon Lightwood MP. Lightwood, Labour MP for Wakefield and Rothwell and minister for local transport, said disabled passengers had been unable to access toilets at the site following vandalism, adding that "everybody should feel safe using Wakefield Bus Station". "It's the gateway for people to visit our city centre, spend money in our local businesses and visit local attractions," he said. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Lightwood said the government had made tackling anti-social behaviour and crime a top priority. "That includes making sure our public transport networks and transport hubs are safe for everyone to use." Insp Paul Fraser, of Wakefield central neighbourhood policing team, said the action at the bus station was part of measures being put in place to reduce crime across the city centre. Police and Wakefield Council had set up a new anti-social behaviour task force in a bid to increase visitor numbers which had involved additional city centre neighbourhood police and council enforcement officer patrols, he said. Plans were also in place to review public space protection orders so more powers could be available to tackle aggressive begging, substance misuse and anti-social gatherings. Matthew Morley, Wakefield Council's cabinet member for planning and highways, said the increased prescence at the bus station would "help deter crime and anti-social behaviour in and around one of our major travel hubs". "That's why this new regular contact point sits alongside work our new Wakefield city anti-social behaviour task force is doing to crackdown on issues affecting people in our city centre," he said. Richard Hoare, area director for bus operator Arriva, said the firm would continue to work with police and the MP to help make the bus station a more "welcoming and safer place". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Arriva Wakefield Council West Yorkshire Police
BBC News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Security increase after vandalism at Wakefield bus station
Security is to be increased at a city's main bus station in an effort to tackle anti-social behaviour, an MP has action comes following incidents of vandalism and reports from passengers who said they felt unsafe using Wakefield Bus initiative would involve police and station security staff working in partnership to provide a visible deterrent to criminals and reassurance to station users and staff, according to Simon Lightwood Labour MP for Wakefield and Rothwell and minister for local transport, said disabled passengers had been unable to access toilets at the site following vandalism, adding that "everybody should feel safe using Wakefield Bus Station". "It's the gateway for people to visit our city centre, spend money in our local businesses and visit local attractions," he to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Lightwood said the government had made tackling anti-social behaviour and crime a top priority."That includes making sure our public transport networks and transport hubs are safe for everyone to use." Insp Paul Fraser, of Wakefield central neighbourhood policing team, said the action at the bus station was part of measures being put in place to reduce crime across the city and Wakefield Council had set up a new anti-social behaviour task force in a bid to increase visitor numbers which had involved additional city centre neighbourhood police and council enforcement officer patrols, he were also in place to review public space protection orders so more powers could be available to tackle aggressive begging, substance misuse and anti-social Morley, Wakefield Council's cabinet member for planning and highways, said the increased prescence at the bus station would "help deter crime and anti-social behaviour in and around one of our major travel hubs"."That's why this new regular contact point sits alongside work our new Wakefield city anti-social behaviour task force is doing to crackdown on issues affecting people in our city centre," he Hoare, area director for bus operator Arriva, said the firm would continue to work with police and the MP to help make the bus station a more "welcoming and safer place". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
a day ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
New Bristol electric buses to cut 'thousands of tonnes' of carbon
A new fleet of electric buses is set to hit the roads in the West of England following a £59m project to upgrade two key bus depots.A total of 98 new buses will soon be operating across nine services in Bristol and North Somerset following the installation of rapid chargers at depots in Hengrove and buses can travel up to 230 miles on one charge, and can be fully charged in just one hour and 15 West of England Mayor Helen Godwin said: "It's better for the environment, and a reliable way to travel, which is what people are asking us for." The first 24 new electric buses are already operating from the Weston-super-Mayor depot, while the Hengrove depot in Bristol is set to get the next year, 258 new electric buses are set to be delivered across the West, with Bath routes being electrified in West of England Combined Authority (Weca) estimates each electric bus will save an average of 75 tonnes of carbon per bus a year, equivalent to taking 54 cars off the whole fleet will reduce global warming gas emissions by the same amount as 14,000 cars produce, it Bus, one of the UK's largest bus operators, provided £50m of the funding, while the remaining £9m came from central government. Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood officially opened the Hengrove depot on said the government was bringing "cleaner, quieter and smoother bus journeys to Bristol and beyond".Mr Lightwood added: "Better buses help deliver our Plan for Change - creating green jobs, boosting the local economy, and building a more sustainable future."Mayor Godwin was among the guests at the launch. She told the BBC that the buses will provide an overall better experience for passengers."They're better for the environment, they're cleaner in terms of emissions, they're new, they're comfortable, have a lot of passenger capacity and they're more reliable."They're less likely to break down and I'm hopeful that the more of this fleet that we get, we can start to see the difference in the performances of buses in the region." Rob Pymm, acting managing director for First Bus in the West of England, said that as well as being good news for the environment, the buses are also a lot more reliable than diesel-powered vehicles."They have many fewer moving parts, and we have just found they break down less often," he said that by 2026, roughly half the company's bus fleet in the region would be electric. "Having three quarters of a million passengers every day travelling by electric bus - that's pretty exciting news," he added.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Vital bus routes to be protected under new law
Vital bus services will be protected under new legislation which has just become law. The Bus Services Bill, which has now passed through the House of Lords, will mean routes deemed "socially necessary" will be subject to strict protections before they can be changed or cancelled. In a visit to Blackpool, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said the government recognised how the routes, such as one between the town and Knott End, provide a "lifeline" for passengers. He told BBC Radio Lancashire said there will now be "extra layers and protections" in place. "When a bus company is considering changing or cancelling that bus service they will have to really consider what all possible options are to mitigate the impact on the local community," he said. The law is intended to end the plight of bus routes being controversially scrapped at short notice, especially those used by vulnerable or disadvantaged passengers. It comes after Blackpool Transport got £4m funding to help improve bus services in the area. Managing director Jane Cole said the investment would encourage more people to use improved public transport and reduce car use. "It is about migrating people on to public transport and by the time we have done that, from a commercial model, we can then put more frequent routes on to more places and the whole town then will have a more green agenda," she said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. £4m plan to improve resort's bus services Blackpool Council Blackpool Transport Department for Transport
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Vital bus routes to be protected under new law
Vital bus services will be protected under new legislation which has just become Bus Services Bill, which has now passed through the House of Lords, will mean routes deemed "socially necessary" will be subject to strict protections before they can be changed or a visit to Blackpool, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said the government recognised how the routes, such as one between the town and Knott End, provide a "lifeline" for passengers. He told BBC Radio Lancashire said there will now be "extra layers and protections" in place. "When a bus company is considering changing or cancelling that bus service they will have to really consider what all possible options are to mitigate the impact on the local community," he said. 'Improved routes' The law is intended to end the plight of bus routes being controversially scrapped at short notice, especially those used by vulnerable or disadvantaged comes after Blackpool Transport got £4m funding to help improve bus services in the director Jane Cole said the investment would encourage more people to use improved public transport and reduce car use."It is about migrating people on to public transport and by the time we have done that, from a commercial model, we can then put more frequent routes on to more places and the whole town then will have a more green agenda," she said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
