Councillors have demanded to see a “paper trail” of taxpayers’ money destined for public transport across the region amid concerns cash from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) could “disappear into a black hole.”

WECA’s Audit Committee heard that transport campaigners had tried to track where funding ends up at its three unitary authorities — Bristol City, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset Councils — but had drawn a blank.

David Redgewell, of Bus Users UK and South West Transport Network, told members that the combined authority was failing in its duty to be accountable to the public and should be more transparent.

He said at the meeting on 21st February: “WECA has a duty on bus services jointly with the three unitary authorities. Therefore, there’s money going into public bus infrastructure and there’s been money awarded by WECA, £1.5 million of taxpayers’ money, into the authorities for bus services.

“I have tried and my colleagues have tried to work out where the money has gone for supporting bus services, and we cannot find a paper trail. The public deserve better. It’s public money. Where is the money being spent on service provision in Bristol, where is it being spent in Bath & North East Somerset and where is it in South Gloucestershire?

“I cannot find, through all these paper trails, anything that’s clear about public bus subsidies. It cannot disappear into a black hole to the local authorities. We need to be transparent and clear.

“WECA is a public body. It is accountable, and I’m not seeing that. This is not a quango, and we need to have a proper audit.”

Mr Redgewell said other combined authorities showed very clearly how their money was spent. He added: “The public are up in arms about the level of bus services. This authority is responsible for all this public money. If there’s money for rail infrastructure or money for roads, we can’t find the paper trail.”

Committee Chairman, Councillor Geoff Gollop, said: “Ultimately, this is a WECA issue. David’s representation quite simply is concerning if that paper trail is not there. We have a responsibility, and we’re not certain how funding is being spent and services paid for.”

The committee asked officers to find out “whether it is as it appears, or whether there’s a clear paper trail” and report back to its next meeting.

Adam Postans, LDR