WEST Scotland MSP Katy Clark has urged Inverclyde residents to share their views on the future of bus ownership. 

The Scottish Labour politician wants people to have their say on a consultation on Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s (SPT) regional bus strategy.

The consultation recommends setting up a regional franchise in the long term, and developing a business case for a new publicly-owned bus company in Strathclyde.

A regional franchise would mean SPT controlling all fares, routes and ticketing, and would require firms to bid for contracts within a set and approved network of routes.

Ms Clark said the consultation gives Inverclyde residents the chance to 'send a clear message that public buses should be in public control'. 

She added: "The West of Scotland has an expensive, unreliable and unco-ordinated public transport network.

"Since Margaret Thatcher’s deregulation of services in the 1980s, we have seen key services cut, passenger numbers dwindle and fares spiral out of control.

"SPT recognises the current model is broken, delivering profits for shareholders whilst cutting lifeline routes service users rely on.

"There is no doubt that cuts to SPT’s budget by the Scottish Government mean that progress may not be immediate, but we also need to send a message that persisting with broken partnerships with private companies will not improve our network and only lock the region into a failed status quo.

"I will be fighting for the funding and resources to make a publicly controlled Strathclyde bus network a reality."

To find out more about the consultation visit betterbuses.uk/strathclyde

The consultation closes at midnight on Monday May 13.