The provision of rural public transport services in Britain with particular reference to the role of local authorities in Scotland

Clyne, J. Fraser (1979) The provision of rural public transport services in Britain with particular reference to the role of local authorities in Scotland. MPhil(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

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Printed Thesis Information: https://eleanor.lib.gla.ac.uk/record=b1634140

Abstract

Top tier local authorities in Britain currently have an important role to play in the planning of the provision of public transport in rural areas. However, the nature of this role as it has been interpreted, particularly by certain Regional Councils in Scotland, is questioned in this study. The nature of relationships between central and local government as they exist in Scotland are considered to be a hindrance to the achievement of effective rural transport planning. Many of the difficulties experienced in this sphere could be eradicated by the extension to Scotland of the duties placed upon County Councils in England and Wales under the 1978 Transport Act, namely to prepare annual Public Transport Plans. The Scottish Bus Group as the main provider of rural transport facilities in this country is also criticised for failing to adopt an aggressive approach to the marketing of their services. The benefits accruing from the partnership between the Group and local authorities are highlighted, but the potential for greater development emerging from this relationship is shown to remain untapped. The greater responsibilities recently given to the Traffic Commissioners are also investigated and it is suggested that without an adequate research staff to provide them with the necessary analyses of local authority and Bus Group plans, the Commissioners will never fully realise their effectiveness in the rural transport planning framework. The detailed probe into the role adopted by Grampian Regional Council brings to the surface the main deficiency of current planning procedures as far as they relate to rural public transport, i.e. the failure of the local authority to adopt a consumer oriented 'needs-based' approach to the problem. Without developing suitable methodologies for defining 'needs', the impact of local authority policies on improving car-less rural residents accessibility requirements will be minimal.

Item Type: Thesis (MPhil(R))
Qualification Level: Masters
Keywords: Transportation, Area planning & development.
Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences
Supervisor's Name: Miller, Alan
Date of Award: 1979
Depositing User: Enlighten Team
Unique ID: glathesis:1979-74116
Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
Date Deposited: 23 Sep 2019 15:33
Last Modified: 10 Nov 2022 09:28
Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.74116
URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/74116

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