Dominic Browne 22 July 2022

Labour warns of bus service cuts as COVID cash ends

Labour warns of bus service cuts as COVID cash ends image
Image: pcruciatti / Shutterstock.com

Labour has warned that a wave of bus service cuts will hit the country this summer as COVID support funding ends, and has written to transport secretary Grant Shapps calling for action.

Labour shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh warned that from the end of July bus services will be slashed in what the opposition party described as 'a betrayal of the promises this government made to improve bus services'.

Ms Haigh accused the Government of slashing its bus transformation funding by almost two-thirds and leaving almost 60% of local communities without any funding to improve bus services.

As Transport Network has previously reported, more than a billion of transformation funding has been diverted to cover COVID subsidies.

With Covid Recovery Funding now set to expire at the end of September, communities are facing a wave of bus service cuts, Labour warned, highlighting South Yorkshire, where a third of services are set to be removed from 24 July. Operators in the North East are also expected be reducing services.

Ms Haigh said: 'Communities and local leaders need certainty in the face of this looming bus crisis, but Ministers are missing in action. Any reduction in services will be devastating for the millions of passengers who depend on buses, and would represent a straightforward betrayal of the promises this government made to communities.

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport described Labour's claims as 'wholly inaccurate' and said it had 'committed to investing £3bn into bus services by 2025, to improve fares, services and infrastructure, and given nearly £2bn since March 2020 to bus operators and local authorities to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic'.

In fact, ministers have previously made clear that cash for COVID support is part of the £3bn rather than being in addition to it.

The spokesperson added: 'To maximise this investment, local authorities need to ensure that services are commercially sustainable and reflect the needs of passengers post-pandemic.'

This article first appeared on Transport Network.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Part Time Finance Administrator

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Finance AdministratorPermanent, Part Time£25,081 per annum, full time equivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Customer Services Adviser (Housing Repairs

Mansfield District Council
£28,598 - £33,699 per annum
Mansfield is a town of towns at the centre of things in Nottinghamshire - a place of many strong connections Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

No Wrong Door Deputy Manager

North Yorkshire Council
From £47,181 up to £51,356 per annum pro rata
We’re looking for a passionate, driven, and dynamic professional to join our management team within our innovative No Wrong Door (NWD) service. Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Resource Centre Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£34,434 - £38,220 per annum pro rata
You will work closely with families and other professionals to ensure that you have sound knowledge of the children you are caring for Morton on Swale, Northallerton
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Social Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£38,220 - £42,839 per annum, pro rata
Our Family Assessment and Support Teams you will work with a range of children and their families, carers and networks. Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner