| Comment | It's really really not.
GCC and all other councils had their rights to interfere in public transport severely curbed in 1986 by the Thatcher govt (London got an exemption, allowing it to set up TfL).
Manchester and a couple over new "mayoral regions" in England recently petitioned Westminster to change the law to give them greater control over transport matter and set up TfL type organisations.
We can't do it in Glasgow cause it's up to the Scottish Parliament to pass legislation to allow it first.
There's a new transport bill working its way through the Scottish Parliament at the moment. It proposed meaningless changes but it was amended in committee thankfully to include these powers for councils.
It's heading for a final vote in parliament on 8th October. If and after it becomes law, GCC and others will be able to step in to make transport better connected / joined up in the city in a way they've not been able to do for 30+ years.
Would strongly recommend anyone who cares about the council getting these powers to follow the Get Glasgow Moving campaign -
https://twitter.com/GetGlesgaMoving?s=17
They had a large part in getting these powers added to the bill. |
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