Mayor Skaith Pushes for Public Control of North Yorkshire Bus Services

Mayor David Skaith criticized the current commercial setup of bus services in North Yorkshire, arguing that private transport companies are failing communities. He stated that the region needs to move away from a system that allows private operators to extract profit so that funds can be reinvested into services. A multimillion-pound investigation is currently examining whether a publicly controlled network can deliver sustainable connections across the county.

The proposed franchising model would allow the Combined Authority to set fares, determine timetables, and dictate route maps, effectively reversing deregulation from the 1980s. The upcoming formal investigation will detail the long-term structural, financial, and legal implications of buying out or replacing private network operators before a final cabinet vote on implementing franchising.

North Yorkshire Council is responsible for the county's bus services and infrastructure, and has previously criticized its own underinvestment in public transport.