Hertfordshire County Council challenged to make the most of new bus powers

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

FRIDAY 20^th FEBRUARY 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alistair Strathern, MP for the Hitchin constituency, has urged Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) to make use of new legal powers and funding to improve local bus services.

Writing to the council’s Chief Executive in a letter, Strathern called on HCC to utilise the new pilot powers and measures in the Bus Services Act to address local bus challenges.

Last year Strathern helped secure Hertfordshire a place as one of the pilots for new bus franchising powers, backed by £500k of additional funding to explore how it could best be delivered in more rural settings. Alongside this, the Government's new Bus Services Act has expanded the powers available to all councils to shape bus services in their area. 

These now will enable Hertfordshire County Council to take much more control over local services, which had previously been heavily shaped by private operators. 

The MP has been engaging and surveying constituents to understand their priorities for these new powers. Having collated their feedback, Mr Strathern is asking asked HCC to act on three clear priorities:

1. Firstly to use the new powers to ensure bus routes are better integrated with each other, aligned to residents' priorities and need and as conducive to reliable services as possible.

2. Secondly to protect rural connectivity by mapping out villages routes and ensuring an appropriate minimum service level for each community.

3. Thirdly to expand HertsLynx services to the rest of North Herts, improving transport options available, especially for more remote areas. 

Since being elected, Strathern has campaigned for much better local bus connectivity, frequently meeting with local bus companies and councils to press residents concerns, and successfully campaigning to expand services from Lilley to Whitwell.

In addition to his three priorities, Strathern has shared with HCC and local operators a host of route level feedback from his engagement, which he will be holding both to account for acting on. 

Alistair Strathern MP said:

“These new powers and funding are a big opportunity for local bus services - it's vital Herts County Council make the most of them. 

“After years of underfunding and routes reducing, the new powers and funding we've secured from the government put our area back in the driving seat.

“From reviewing route integration and mapping underserved areas, to ensuring reliability and expanding HertsLynx, there is a lot HCC can be doing right now.

“I look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure they use these powers fully to deliver on our communities priorities.”

Notes for Editors

You can see Strathern’s letter to HCC attached.