Bus services under threat from cuts

Bus services face a widespread cull as more than two-thirds of local authorities plan cuts to public transport budgets, a report warns today. Whitehall's funding squeeze on councils, changes to payments for pensioners' bus passes and a looming reduction in fuel subsidies could force rural bus routes out of business, according to the Campaign for Better Transport. The environmental group said 70% of local authorities in England were planning major cuts in bus budgets, including threats to remove subsidies in Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. CBT's chief executive, Stephen Joseph, said the worst affected by the cuts would be people on low incomes and in rural areas, which are served by heavily subsidised services to encourage private operators to take on commercially non-viable routes. "These unprecedented cuts will be especially disastrous for people on low incomes and could effectively mean the death of rural bus services. Politicians must consider the social, economic and environmental consequences of failing to protect our bus services," said Joseph, whose CBT group launches a Save Our Buses campaign today. Although they receive less attention from politicians and the media than the rail industry, buses are a more popular form of transport – accounting for 7% of trips in the UK compared with 3% for trains. According to CBT, buses account for two-thirds of public transport journeys. The Liberal Democrat transport minister, Norman Baker, admitted this week that the cuts could endanger unprofitable services, such as rural routes, which need local government subsidy to survive. He added that more than seven out of 10 bus services were making money for operators. "I hope this is some consolation, that bus services are not facing Armageddon." Speaking a seminar on bus cuts hosted by the RMT union, Baker faced questions from shop stewards and school children over the retrenchment. Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said falling back on profitable services would "wipe out" some networks. "If people are going to start saying that bus services must make money, then basically we are going to wipe out the services we have got." Worst affected Cambridgeshire: The council proposes to cut 100% of supported bus routes, retracting £2.7m from their bus budget. There is £1m set aside to prop up community transport schemes to soften the blow. Devon: Rural bus services face a cut of £1.3m, putting lifeline routes in jeopardy. Hartlepool: The council is withdrawing all supported buses, as well as cutting the hospital bus service and Dial-a-Ride service. Northamptonshire: 100% cut from supported bus services if the council has its way. Bus users in Northamptonshire will be left stranded unless they live on busy commercial routes. North Yorkshire: In England's largest county £600,000 has been cut from the bus budget, resulting in all supported evening, Sunday and bank holiday services being axed. Somerset: Almost 50% of lifeline bus routes are to be slashed as the council halves its spending on supported buses, amounting to a cut of more than £3.5m over three years. Suffolk: The county council is reviewing 93 services in an attempt to slash 53%, or £2.3m, from the support it gives to socially necessary buses, and is cutting its concessionary bus pass for young people. West Sussex: The council plans to cut £2m from supported bus services and to withdraw concessionary fares for children in post-16 education.