A major bus firm has claimed bus franchising is “theft” and they would fight it through the courts if necessary.

McGill’s Group, which operated in Glasgow and the Renfrewshire area reacted after SPT boss, Valerie Davidson, spoke about the idea ahead of a meeting this week to discuss options for changing how buses are run in the greater Glasgow area.

Ms Davidson said the options available include “franchising, bus partnership and municipal operation”.

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Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, she said: “Franchising is an option that should be investigated.

“Franchising allows the public authority to define frequency, reliability, services and quality.”

However, she added: “That comes at a cost.”

Ms Davidson said for buses to be more appealing they needed more space on the road to reduce congestion.

McGill’s owned by brothers James and Sandy Easdale claimed the cost is £100 million a year and is “theft of a private business”.

Ralph Roberts, McGill’s chief executive, said: “With a £1 billion black hole in the Scottish economy, I cannot imagine how they are going to find £100m per year to subsidise franchised bus services in Strathclyde.

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“Franchising is effectively confiscation of a business that has been built in good faith over many years with investors funds and it raises a host of legal implications, including issues under Article 1 of ECHR.

“It goes against every sense of natural justice and we would take this to every court in the land and beyond.”

SPT is meeting on Friday to consider recommendations for the future of the regional bus network.

Mr Roberts added: “Franchising can be introduced in a different way and our opposition to it will be absolute until the threat of theft of a private business is lifted.

“Bus use is declining because local authorities haven’t done their job to help bus users. I see nothing from franchising that will change this and unless councillors are willing to make the kind of tough decisions made in other places, particularly in prioritising buses over private cars, then this will be a very expensive waste of money for the taxpayer.

“Our advice is simple and based on proven experience from around the world - remove buses from congestion and take business confiscation off the table.

“These two simple steps will build trust and show that this is about bus users rather than a power trip for politicians and quangos, most of whom never set foot on a bus.”