A coalition of campaigners delivered a petition with over 1800 signatures to the head office of the West Midlands Combined Authority calling on the new Mayor to bring the bus network back under public control through franchising.
Campaigners from TUC Midlands Pensioner Network, Unison retired members, West Midlands Pensioner Convention and the community campaigning union Acorn delivered the petition to the West Midlands Combined Authority afternoon. Yvonne Washbourne, Chair of TUC Midlands Pensioner Network said: "The bus network is vital to the future economic success of our region, in the fight against climate change and in supporting isolated and vulnerable communities.
"Instead of the wild west failing system we have today, we need to see buses brought back under public control. Introducing franchising would enable local government to determine the details of the services to be provided – where they run, when they run and the standards of the services.
"Franchising has been used in London for many years and has now been adopted in Greater Manchester. What's good enough for London and Manchester is good enough for the West Midlands.”
