Adam welcomes bus service powers for local authorities
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NEW powers allowing local authorities to run bus services as they see fit have been welcomed by a north-east MSP.
Under the Transport (Scotland) Act the Scottish Government has handed councils the power tailor bus services to meet the individual needs of the communities they serve.
When the Act was developed, local authorities asked for the option to run their own services to be included.
The move has been welcomed by Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Karen Adam.
She said: "Bus services are vital to Banffshire and Buchan Coast for those wanting to get around but they are also a vital tool in our response to the climate emergency.
"That is why it is welcome that the SNP Scottish Government is rolling out these powers to local authorities across the country, including Aberdeenshire and Moray, to ensure we have a bus service that is fit for purpose and serves the needs of people in Banffshire and Buchan Coast.
“This is just one measure the SNP Scottish Government has taken to revitalise our bus network here in Aberdeenshire, Moray, and across Scotland by providing half a billion pounds in long term funding for bus priority infrastructure, coupled with the roll out of free bus travel to under-22s and significant investment to encourage a shift to zero emission buses.
“Buses will play a key role in achieving Scotland’s world-leading target of reducing car kilometres by 20 per cent by 2030 and this measure to empower local authorities will be another step on the path to achieving that goal.”
Commenting, SNP MSP Karen Adam said:
