Foster calls for affordable fares

7.43.58pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 4th Apr 2005

Bath's MP, Don Foster, has called on First Bus to revise its charges to help local families, and to improve the publicity of its new zone based fare structure.

"It's daft when we're trying to encourage more people to use bus services that the cost of doing so, especially for families, is so high. A fare of over £8.00 for a family of four travelling into Bath from zone 3, is simply too much.

"So I'm calling on First to introduce a family ticket for travel within the Bath network for about a fiver."

Don has also expressed his disappointment at the lack of signage, explaining the new zones.

"First have introduced the zoning to make their services easier for people to understand, but the only place that many people have seen the details is in the pages of the Chronicle! In some cases I've heard of, even the bus drivers weren't sure. I've asked First to ensure that the zones and the fare structures are clearly displayed at bus stops and on buses."

Don Foster is campaigning for local authorities to be given back influence over the bus services in their areas. Continuing, Don said,

"Ever since the Tories de-regulated bus services, local residents have had to take a back seat behind the interests of bus company shareholders. I want to see the control of the bus routes put back in the hands of local people, with franchises for routes being tendered out to private companies. It works well in London, and should be rolled out across the country. That way, local people can have a say in the standard of the service they receive.