ACORN South West region

ACORN South West region

ACORN's South West region contains the Branches and Groups Bristol, Swindon, and Falmouth & Penryn, as well as many other members in other towns and cities, all fighting campaigns on the issues that matter to them. Join in with an action near you so we can win.

We are stronger together.

ACORN's South West region contains the Branches and Groups Bristol, Swindon, and Falmouth & Penryn, as well as many other members in other towns and cities, all fighting campaigns on the issues that matter to them. Join in with an action near you so we can win.

We are stronger together.

Take Back Bristol's Buses

The privatisation of buses has been a total failure. Outside London, passenger numbers have fallen by half and average prices have risen 35% above inflation since the 1980s. It’s a shambles for passengers but bus companies' shareholders have made £billions from fares and subsidies.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

What ACORN is demanding

Tim Bowles has the power to take buses back into public control through franchising or the kind of worker buyout that would deliver partial public ownership and control - but so far he's failed to act.

We know public control is more effective. It's how transport is run in London where the market is regulated by Transport for London (TfL) - buses are more regular, prices are capped, and essential routes are protected.

Franchising or a worker- & council-owned bus service would give us:

  • control over the bus network, which would mean companies would be forced to put on certain, less profitable routes and more regular services.
  • control over fares, so we are the ones that set the prices.
  • control over ticketing, which could mean one single, affordable ticket for the whole of the West of England, like it is in London.

Bristol - and the whole region - deserves better buses.

We demand that Tim Bowles start an investigation into bringing the buses back into public control and that Bristol City Council support franchising or a worker buyout.

Send a clear message to Tim Bowles, Marvin Rees & leaders across the region - we want our buses back!

 

Dear West of England Combined Authority & Metro Mayor,

We, the undersigned, demand that Tim Bowles and Marvin Rees (West of England & Bristol Mayors) and Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire Councils:

- Support a worker-led buyout of First Bus, with the Councils each taking a stake to bring buses back into partial public ownership,
- Launch a consultation as a first step to introducing a franchising system if a worker-led buyout doesn't happen, and
- Manage contracts carefully under any franchising arrangement to guarantee workers' conditions and good levels of service for the most deprived areas in the region.
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