Grant Shapps hails Manchester bus decision as 'excellent result' and says city will lead the way
manchestereveningnews.co.ukGreater Manchester is 'in the lead' to run local bus services in the way the government wants the whole country to, the Transport Secretary has said.
Grant Shapps welcomed a court ruling in favour of Greater Manchester bringing its buses under public control, describing it as an 'excellent result'.
Sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice yesterday (March 9), Mr Justice Julian Knowles ruled that both the decision and the process followed to introduce a franchising system where operators have to bid to run services were lawful. READ MORE: "The North is retaking control": Andy Burnham leads celebration over legal win for bus reform Mayor Andy Burnham said the decision, which followed a judicial review brought by two bus operators, is a 'green light' for the North of England.
It is the first time in more than 30 years that a city outside of London will have these powers – and other regions are already looking at doing the same soon.
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