Budget bus boost called for by Campaign for Better Transport
Campaign for Better Transport is calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to give buses a ‘boost’ in forthcoming Budget.
To promote economic growth, meet net zero targets and reduce air pollution, the campaign group argues the government should be investing in bus networks and encouraging more people to use buses by making fares more affordable.
Campaign for Better Transport is calling on the Chancellor to extend the £2 bus fare cap to ensure fares remain affordable until it is decided what discounts for bus passengers can replace the cap, and to set aside enough funding to deliver the aims of the Better Buses Bill by.
The Campaign’s demands include:
- Providing an enhanced funding package for local transport authorities for the year ahead, so they can step in to support services through Enhanced Partnerships with bus operators;
- Transferring all bus-related funding for local authorities from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to the DfT, and ensure it is ringfenced for bus services and transparent to all;
- Preparing long-term, multi-modal funding settlements for all local transport authorities ahead of the Spending Review;
- Bridging the funding gap for authorities that have fared less well in recent years;
- Making funding partly conditional on meeting specific economic, social and environmental objectives.
Silviya Barrett from Campaign for Better Transport, said: “The government has rightly identified buses as key to economic growth and we are pleased that it is determined to address the decline in local bus services. However, without the right funding and a guarantee that fares will remain affordable, it risks being unable to deliver on its promises. The Chancellor must use the Budget to set aside enough funding to deliver the government’s ‘bus revolution’ and keep fares affordable for the millions of people who use buses every single day.”
- Campaign for Better Transport’s full letter to HM Treasury can be found here.