This Council is concerned to
learn from Stagecoach about the reductions to bus services in
Exeter from 24 January 2022 and also from South Western Railway
(First Group) to broadly half the number of trains and make a
change of trains at Salisbury necessary for passengers to and from
London Waterloo from 17 January 2022, noting that these reductions
are apparently due to staff shortages related to Covid.
However, this Council also
notes the imminent lifting of restrictions by HM Government and the
encouragement to employees to return to their workplaces rather
than working from home. These developments, along with the
continuing expansion in the area, are very likely to encourage car
usage to at least pre-Covid levels and,
in consequence, a rise in congestion and emissions running counter
to Council policies on carbon reduction.
This Council considers that
radical solutions are needed to public transport in Exeter in
addition to the reversal of the above named cuts. It calls for a
wide ranging examination by the Exeter City Council Transport
Working Group of the possibilities, for example, of Council run bus
services (as existed in Exeter 1904-1970), bus and train
performance contracts, electric buses, a city wide tram system,
emission charging for road vehicles and workplace parking levies to
fund transport improvements.
Minutes:
Councillor Wardle, seconded by Councillor Pearce, moved a Notice of Motion in the following terms
“This Council is
concerned to learn from Stagecoach about the reductions to bus
services in Exeter from 24 January 2022 and also from South Western
Railway (First Group) to broadly half the number of trains and make
a change of trains at Salisbury necessary for passengers to and
from London Waterloo from 17 January 2022, noting that these
reductions are apparently due to staff shortages related to
Covid.
However, this Council also
notes the imminent lifting of restrictions by HM Government and the
encouragement to employees to return to their workplaces rather
than working from home. These developments, along with the
continuing expansion in the area, are very likely to encourage car
usage to at least pre-Covid levels and,
in consequence, a rise in congestion and emissions running counter
to Council policies on carbon reduction.
This Council considers that
radical solutions are needed to public transport in Exeter in
addition to the reversal of the above named cuts. It calls for a
wide ranging examination by the Exeter City Council Transport
Working Group of the possibilities, for example, of Council run bus
services (as existed in Exeter 1904-1970), bus and train
performance contracts, electric buses, a city wide tram system,
emission charging for road vehicles and workplace parking levies to
fund transport improvements.”
In presenting his Motion, Councillor Wardle, highlighted the following:-
· South Western Railway First Group had re-instated the hourly train service to Waterloo;
· Stagecoach had reduced their day to day service in Exeter and the service remained expensive and unreliable;
· Government support for bus transport was set to be reduced and it was unknown what support would be available for a Bus Service Improvement Plan;
· increasing car usage post Covid and the continuing housing expansion in the area were likely to increase car usage to at least pre-Covid levels leading to a rise in congestion and carbon emissions contrary to Net Zero Exeter 2030 ambitions;
· further new towns were planned in the travel to work area and the former Greater Exeter Strategic Partnership had planned for 53,262 houses across 38 sites;
· figures from the 2021 Census would be published shortly and needed to be assessed in respect of transport issues, which could be undertaken by Exeter City Futures in conjunction with the University of Exeter; and
· the Reading bus service was run by the local authority and Nottingham’s tram system was funded by a Workplace Parking Levy. Exeter should also investigate solutions to transport issues.
Councillor Harvey, the Chair of the Exeter Transport Working Group, made the following points:-
· the Government was set to withdraw 30% of funding to Bus Companies;
· Devon County Council was looking to reduce support for concessionary fares due to a lack of take up which could result in further reductions in services. Rail Companies had also suffered a downturn during the Pandemic;
· the Pinhoe Access Strategy highlighted the need for improved bus services; and
· the remit of the Transport Working Group was to influence Devon County Council as the Highway Authority to seek true alignment with the City Council’s own transport visions.
Councillor Sparling referred to the importance of ensuring that the safety of women and vulnerable groups getting around the city, especially at night, would also be an important consideration and that other issues should not take precedence. Councillor Harvey gave an assurance that this would be the case.
The Leader referred to the Transport Act 1968 that had enabled municipal bus companies to transfer ownership to the National Bus Company; the 1985 Transport Act which had deregulated the bus industry in the UK; and to Stagecoach’s unsuccessful bid for funding for electric buses. He also referred to the competing demands on the Council’s limited resources.
Councillor Pearce, in seconding the motion, emphasised the need for an improved frequency in the bus service, cheaper fares and carbon friendly vehicles.
Councillor Wardle, in commending the motion to Council, expressed his concern that the views of many seemed to suggest that public transport in the city was in a poor state. He asked that the matter be considered by the newly created Exeter Transport Working Group in conjunction with the Highways Authority.
The Notice of Motion was put to the vote and CARRIED unanimously.