Councils warn services will be cut unless Government extends Bus Recovery Grant
Essential bus routes may have to be axed from the end of next month if emergency government funding support is not extended, councils and bus operators are warning.
The Local Government Association, ADEPT, Urban Transport Group and Campaign for Better Transport are uniting to call on the Government to urgently extend its Bus Recovery Support Grant when it ends in March, saying that current passenger numbers are still way short of their pre pandemic levels.
The Bus Recovery Grant, introduced by the Department of Transport (DfT) last year due to sharp declines in passenger numbers provides operators and local authorities with £255.5 million in funding support.
However, the Government is yet to clarify if this emergency measure will be extended beyond the end of March, leading to concerns that a significant number of routes – estimates predict a 30 per cent reduction in current bus services – when funding support ends.
Around 33 per cent of all bus journeys, pre pandemic, were made for commuting purposes. And with commuting levels predicted to continue to remain below March 2020 levels for the foreseeable future, it is unlikely that bus passenger numbers will bounce back quickly. Latest DfT figures show that current bus passenger numbers outside of London are still 26 per cent lower than they were before the pandemic started.
Councils are now calling on the Government to extend funding support, saying it is crucial if the Government is to achieve its ambitions to improve and level up bus transport as part of its ‘Bus Back Better’ strategy announced by the Prime Minister, with a move to ‘London style’ transport networks in cities across the UK.
Cllr David Renard, Transport spokesperson for the LGA, said, “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. Without continued support, it is clear that some routes will no longer be viable and will have to be reduced. Saving bus services is good value for money – bringing services and passengers back is harder and more expensive.”
Mark Kemp, Chair of the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport ‘s (ADEPT) Transport and Connectivity Board added, “ADEPT is very concerned about the potential impact of the premature removal of Covid related bus services support.
“The publishing of Bus Back Better and the fact that all authorities submitted bids for Bus Service Improvement Grants are evidence of the contribution that buses could make to delivering against the decarbonisation agenda and helping people move away from a reliance on the private car. In addition, the wellbeing value of services that enable those who cannot afford a car to get to work, visit the hospital or just see friends and family should not be underestimated. We hope that Government will review its current position and find a way to support the bus community over the next 12 months.”