A Green councillor has called for strong political leadership to prevent Exeter missing out on a chunk of money earmarked to improve bus services in the city.
The call from Councillor Lynn Wetenhall, a member of the Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC), comes after Labour, Conservative and Independent councillors rejected proposals to improve bus service reliability along a key bus artery in St Thomas at their meeting in July. Funding for minor changes to the Cowick Street bus lane was made available under Devon County Council’s £14 million Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) [1]. The rejection of the proposals contradicts an earlier HATOC agreement in January to proceed with the Traffic Regulation Orders necessary to make changes to the bus lane [2].
Cllr Lynn Wetenhall said:
“We had a real opportunity to make a positive difference to Exeter’s bus services, which are vital for so many. Frequent and reliable bus services are also key to getting our city moving, cutting carbon emissions and improving air quality.
“The decision to block these improvements – by Labour, Conservative and Independent councillors on HATOC – is short-sighted. It risks squandering Exeter’s slice of the £14 million Government funding, allocated for bus improvement measures.
“The decision demonstrates a worrying lack of political leadership. That’s why I have written to both the Conservative lead for transport, environment and climate change in Devon and to the Labour leader of Exeter City Council, seeking reassurance from them that they are committed to more frequent and reliable buses in Exeter. I also want to know what they are going to do to avoid the risk of squandering a much-needed government-funded programme for bus improvements.”
A special HATOC meeting has been scheduled for November to review the Central and Eastern bus corridors, including proposed changes to the Heavitree Fore Street bus lane. With these proposals involving more significant interventions, Councillor Wetenhall is urging political leaders to ensure that evidence-based decisions prevail.
Cllr Wetenhall continued:
“We cannot afford to go down this route again in November. The people of Exeter are fed up with poor bus services and deserve better. The Bus Improvement Plan is just the ticket to help deliver them. What is needed now from our local politicians is a genuine commitment to bus travel and strong political leadership.”
Notes
[1] Version 3 June 2024 of the Devon County Council Bus Services Improvement Plan
[2] Meeting of Exeter HATOC minutes, January 2024 See page 4: It was MOVED by Councillor Hannaford, SECONDED by Councillor Barnes
And RESOLVED that: (a) the implementation of Western Corridor Bus improvements at an
estimated cost of £235,000, subject to Department for Transport funding approval, be approved; (b) the advertisement of traffic regulation orders for the extension of the Cowick Street bus lane operating hours and the associated loading and waiting restrictions needed to facilitate the changes on the opposite side of the bus lane area.
It was also noted that: The proposals provided a low cost, low carbon improvement, providing significant improvements to bus journey times and benefits from external capital grant funding from the BSIP programme.