Bus routes face axe without funding extension

Council leaders and bus operators are warning that essential bus routes may have to be axed from the end of next month if emergency government funding support is not extended.

The Local Government Association, ADEPT, Urban Transport Group and Campaign for Better Transport have called on the government to urgently extend its Bus Recovery Support Grant when it ends in March, saying that current passenger numbers were still way short of their pre pandemic levels. Experts are warning of a 30 per cent reduction in current bus services when current funding support ends.

The Bus Recovery Grant was introduced by the Department of Transport last year, providing operators and local authorities with £255.5 million in funding support due to sharp declines in passenger numbers affecting revenues. The government is yet to clarify if this emergency measure is due to be extended beyond the end of March, leading to concerns that a significant number of routes will no longer remain viable due to continuing low passenger numbers if it does end.

Further funding support will enable operators and local authorities to ensure lifeline routes can stay open and plan for longer term improvements in bus networks. Bus passenger numbers cannot recover if services people were using have disappeared.

David Renard, Transport spokesperson for the LGA, said: “Councils across the country are working with local operators to continue to deliver lifeline bus services despite the pressures of the pandemic. Greater usage of public transport helps to alleviate congestion and reduce harmful emissions in our communities.

“Government funding has helped keep buses on the road, allowing operators to close the gap between the costs of providing local public transport and the reduced revenues from much lower numbers of passengers than normal. Passenger numbers have not returned to those seen before the pandemic and without continued support, it is clear that some routes will no longer be viable and will have to be reduced.

“This will have a devastating impact on people who rely on these services to get to work, visit family and access vital services, including doctors and affordable food shopping. Saving bus services is good value for money for the government and the National Bus Strategy as well as for the Treasury as bringing services and passengers back is harder and more expensive. The Bus Recovery Support Grant must be urgently extended beyond the end of March.”