Government announces funding for bus services

The government has announced up to £130 million of funding to support bus services across England with the aim of ensuring services keep running and affordable transport is still available.

The funding will run from October 2022, to March 2023.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "This funding will ensure millions across the country can continue to use vital bus services, and brings the total we’ve provided to the sector throughout the pandemic to almost £2 billion.

"At a time when people are worried about rising costs, it’s more important than ever we save these bus routes for the millions who rely on them for work, school and shopping."

Cllr David Renard, Transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: "The announcement of this extension to emergency funding is good news for councils as it will help keep critical local buses on the road in the short term and stop bus services in some areas slipping back into decline.

“However, if the Government wants to protect and grow bus travel, instead of emergency funding it should deliver on the commitments made in the National Bus Strategy. These include providing the £3 billion over three years for Bus Service Improvement Plans which have been produced by every local transport authority and local bus operators. So far, the Government has only delivered £1.1 billion of this, with more than half of council bids yet to receive funding."

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