West Yorkshire Mayor calls for the government to make masks mandatory on public transport
From the 19th July it's compulsory to wear masks in West Yorkshire bus stations, but not on the bus or train
From the 19th July it will be mandatory for people in an indoor bus stations at Batley, Bradford Interchange, Brighouse, Castleford, Cleckheaton, Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Keighley, Leeds, Ossett, Pudsey and Pontefract to wear a face mask.
The move was made by West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin, but she doesn't have the power to make mask wearing compulsory on buses or trains, meaning people won't have to wear them.
But, unions are describing it as 'patchwork protection' saying it's led to more confusion for the public.
Unite regional officer Phil Bown said:
“Tracy Brabin has done totally the right thing and is maximising her powers to try to ensure the safety of bus workers and passengers in West Yorkshire.
“Due to the government’s reckless and dangerous decision to end compulsory mask wearing, there is going to be chaos and confusion across public transport, with some companies and areas enforcing mask wearing, while others fail to do so.
“Tracy Brabin is right to urge all passengers to wear masks but we should not be in this position. There was no good reason to end compulsory mask wearing by the government. It is creating uncertainty and anxiety for passengers and bus workers.
“If passengers are confused by the patchwork nature of the new rules, they must not take their frustrations out on public transport workers, but blame the government, which has acted recklessly.”
"We can't afford to loosen our grip on this virus in West Yorkshire."
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“The past 18 months has been incredibly hard for our West Yorkshire communities - no more so than for the vulnerable and for people who have tragically lost loved ones. This is why, today I am urging people across the region to wear a face mask on all of our public transport networks. I hope this will give encouragement to those who are vulnerable – such as those using public transport to attended chemotherapy appointments – to continue to travel on public transport.
With that in mind, and with 71% of the public supportive of the continued use of face coverings, I am today mandating the use of face coverings across bus stations in West Yorkshire. Whilst I would like to go further to include buses and trains, we are doing what is in our power.
“I have been consistently clear with Government - they have the power to mandate face masks across all transport networks and I would support them to make that decision as restrictions lift. While the vaccination roll out is impressive, we still have further to go with infections across West Yorkshire still high.
“We have come so far. Let’s stick together, support each other so places like West Yorkshire can recover and thrive.”