Funding Cut For Bus Services In England And Wales

Funding for buses has been cut for half of local authorities in England and Wales.

Since 2010, local authority funding for bus service has been slashed by 15 per cent (£44m) with more than 2000 routes being reduced or withdrawn entirely, according to research by Campaign for Better Transport.

Martin Abrams, Public Transport Campaigner, Campaign for Better Transport said: "Across the country, bus services are being lost at an alarming rate. Year on year cuts to budgets mean entire networks have now disappeared, leaving many communities with little public transport and in some cases none at all. We often hear from people with heartbreaking stories, who have been effectively cut off from society following cuts to their bus service. They are unable to access jobs, shops or public services, and are left in isolation with little contact with the outside world."

In 2014/15, nearly 500 bus services were cut, altered or withdrawn, bringing the total to over 2,000 routes since 2010.

The overall reduction in Wales in 2014/15 is over £900,000 with 86 bus services having been cut, altered or withdrawn in 2014/15.

A number of authorities are consulting on further major funding reductions in future years.

Mr Abrams continued: "It's very worrying that further steep cuts in budgets are threatened next year and beyond. The Government must wake up to the crisis facing buses and urgently introduce new initiatives which recognise the vital social, economic and environmental role buses play. The challenge for this and future Governments is to secure investment in buses and ensure rescue efforts won't be too little too late."

(CD/IT)