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16
Mar 2021
Harrogate buses are the best, says Transport Secretary Grant Shapps
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has held up Harrogate's bus service as an example of what other places should aspire to.
The government published a national bus strategy yesterday.
Ministers say the strategy 'will deliver better bus services for passengers across England, through ambitious and far-reaching reform of how services are planned and delivered'.
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Shapps said successive governments had failed to invest sufficiently in buses, which carry twice as many passengers as trains. He added:
The strategy praises the 36 bus that links Ripon, Harrogate and Leeds, which is run by the Harrogate Bus Company.
According to the document, it "offers a sophisticated and comfortable service which has transformed the passenger experience and encouraged people to make the switch to bus".
The strategy also says bus operators and councils will have to negotiate agreements on how buses are run, which will require local authorities to take greater responsibility for bus services.
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The agreements must be reached by June 30 if buses are to receive further emergency funding from the covid bus services support grant.
Mr Shapps added:
Shadow Transport Secretary Jim McMahon said:
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