Greens MSP's call for Highland Council to invest in locally owned bus services
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Ariane Burgess, Scottish Greens MSP for the Highlands & Islands, has called for Highland Council to apply to the newly launched Scottish Community Bus Fund to support them in developing plans for publicly owned local bus services.
The newly launched £5 million fund is an important part of the cooperation agreement between the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Government. It was created to support local authorities to improve public transport in their areas.
This will be followed by legislation later this year that will empower councils to enact bus franchising and new partnership options.
Ariane Burgess MSP said: “This is a great opportunity. This fund can help Highland Council through the process of bringing public transport under more public control.
“It can allow us to trial new approaches, draw in new technology and fill in gaps in other forms of funding as we build a service that works for local people.
“With Scottish Greens in government we are transforming transport in Scotland. The introduction of Green free bus travel for everyone under 22 has already seen 19,747 young people in the Highlands signing up for their bus pass.
“We can build on this success by working to deliver a locally owned bus service that everyone in the Highlands can be proud of.”
