Rogerson challenges Minister on bus bungle
North Cornwall’s MP, Dan Rogerson, this week challenged Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly, to revisit regulations which stop rural bus services running their full distance.
The rules state that no bus or bus driver can travel more than 30 miles without a change of driver. Additionally, all passengers have to disembark before the new driver boards!
Mr Rogerson has been in correspondence with Ministers and with the bus companies affected by the policy, which he told the House of Commons had seen ‘many rural passengers have to interrupt their journeys and change unnecessarily’.
The Minister told MPs that new legislation, presently in draft form, might empower local authorities to make the rules fit their area.
Commenting, he said:
“These rules simply do not make sense for rural parts of the country like Cornwall.
“Driving 30 miles through London traffic would be cause for any driver to pause but forcing them to empty their buses and swap with another driver in the middle of a journey between towns is just absurd.
“I welcome news that the law may, in due course, be changed but bus companies in Cornwall need action now – not after a lengthy Parliamentary recess and the passage of a Bill which is even today still in draft form.
“Ruth Kelly could simply change the regulations were she to so wish. She should do so swiftly.”
