On the buses with RELBUS

The annual report of RELBUS, the East Lothian bus users’ group, has highlighted the range of activities with which the group has been involved in order to improve the lot of bus passengers across the county. Working with East Lothian Council and the operators RELBUS launched the Passenger Charter, it is represented on the council’s Bus Forum and on the East Lothian Community Rail Partnership, it has made an input to the supported bus route tendering process and to the consultation on MSP Iain Gray’s Bus Bill and it has continued its bread and butter business of making representations on behalf of bus users.

Barry Turner, chairman of RELBUS said: ”It has been another busy year for RELBUS, a year when we have been reaching out and having more and more influence on what is happening to bus service provision in East Lothian. The big success story of the year has been the launch of the Passenger Charter which represents a new deal for bus users and shows what can be achieved when organisations come together to find common ground and common cause. We are very pleased with the outcome and hope that it is just the start of successful cooperation which will deliver change for existing bus passengers and attract people out of their cars.”

At the group’s recent Annual General Meeting Councillor Dave Berry gave a presentation on how bus services could be arranged to suit the needs of tourists. This is one of the priorities identified for the coming year given that better connections for tourists also mean better connections for local people. Other priorities will be delivering on the Passenger Charter, tackling social exclusion in remote communities through novel transport solutions and building on links with other organisations so as to promote public transport use.

If you want further information about what RELBUS does or would like to become a member, access our website: www.relbus.org.uk.

General Press Release – October 2014

RELBUS gives support to Bus Bill

RELBUS, a group campaigning for better bus services in rural East Lothian, has made a submission supporting in principle the provisions of MSP Iain Gray’s proposed parliamentary Bill on bus regulation.  Consultation on the Bill ended on 11th October.  It proposes to provide local authorities with greater powers to set service levels for local bus services, including a power to group profitable routes with non-profitable ones before they are put out to tender with operators. The premise of Iain Gray’s proposal is that current arrangements for the provision of bus services are letting down some communities and that the unregulated market has failed to protect those who depend on local services.  RELBUS agrees having witnessed last year the wholesale withdrawal of commercial and supported services by First in East Lothian and Midlothian. It does not see the status quo bringing forward the kind of change in provision that it considers necessary based upon what local people are saying.

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Campaigning for better rural transport: RELBUS regroups

Barry Turner Chair of RELBUS
Barry Turner Chair of RELBUS
RELBUS, the campaign group for better rural public transport in East Lothian, has appointed former Liberal Democrat councillor, Barry Turner, as its chair. The group has consolidated and re-formed in the light of the First Bus cuts in services, which have meant a review of contracts for many services supported by the council and a general increase in awareness of issues surrounding public transport provision. Former Dunbar councillor Jacquie Bell has also joined the RELBUS committee.

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