Bus company boss hits back at MP over criticism

An MP has become embroiled in a war of words with a local bus provider over provision of services in his constituency.

North Norfolk Liberal Democrat MP Steffan Aquarone said he had spent the past two years fighting "tirelessly" for more frequent buses, and earlier and later services.

However, Charles Sanders, who runs Sanders Coaches in Norfolk, said the MP did not appreciate the improvements already made.

"He's trying to make a point but he's not doing it in the right way," said Sanders.

"Of course there are areas of North Norfolk that don't have an adequate bus service because you just can't do absolutely everything."

Speaking to Chris Goreham on BBC Radio Norfolk, Sanders said: "There's been masses of changes.

"We run every half an hour from North Walsham to Norwich — it used to be hourly. We run buses from Sheringham to Cromer to Norwich every half an hour... I think we've done as much as we can with the little money that was made available to Norfolk."

He pointed out that the fare cap was still £3, no matter the journey.

Coastal services for tourists were also running later, he added.

In January, Norfolk County Council said its Bus Service Improvement Plan had "transformed" public transport and had seen a 26% increase in passenger numbers since 2022.

A report for the authority's infrastructure and development committee pointed to the £65.45m of funding from the Department for Transport bringing improvements including new and enhanced bus services on more than 44 routes.

Reform UK won control of the council from the Conservatives in May.

On social media, Aquarone wrote: "Life's short to miss the bus... That's why I've spent my first two years as an MP fighting tirelessly for better buses.

"More frequent. Earlier and later services. Getting people where they need to be."

Aquarone also said it should not fall on individual bus operators to solve the problem - it needed investment and funding from the "public purse".

"The fare cap has been very successful at driving numbers," the MP told the BBC.

"We need to rethink the way we approach rural public transport.

"There is an unmet demand and if we increase and improve bus frequency and bus services, people will use them more often."

He said the improvements were not "scratching the surface", adding: "I will not apologise for demanding better for my constituents."

The Labour government highlighted Norfolk as an example of success as it set out its "vision for buses" in April, which followed December's extension of the £3 national bus fare cap until March 2027.

This stated: "Places like Greater Manchester, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Leicester show in their different ways how joint working and targeted investment can transform the local bus network's offer to the passenger and help support our decade of national renewal."

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