30: Lunch with Leon episode 30 - Laura Shoaf
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\\u201cPublic transport is social justice. There\\u2019s never a better time to remind us nationally why we\\u2019re doing what we\\u2019re doing,\\u201d says Laura Shoaf, MD of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and newly-appointed Chair of the Urban Transport Group.
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A planner by background, Laura has extraordinary energy and is a huge force for good for public transport internationally, as well as in the UK.\\xa0
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Talking with Leon Daniels over lunch she explores what the future holds: \\u201cEvery crisis has an opportunity. How we come out of this with a functioning integrated transport network that\\u2019s still affordable and reliable, is challenging in a way it\\u2019s never been challenged before.\\u201d
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\\u201cWe cannot afford to have a car-based recovery. We must have a green recovery,\\u201d and she sends a clear set of messages to the government.
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\\u201cAs an industry, we need to lobby government, saying \\u2018you need to make sure that in \\u2018building back better\\u2019 our networks are fully functioning and supported.\\u201d
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They chat about what the Government\\u2019s forthcoming bus strategy might hold. Laura says she\\u2019s hoping for devolution of Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) as \\u201cwe can get better outcomes, the more funding and powers that are devolved to us.\\u201d
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