Kemi Badenoch, the MP for the Saffron Walden constituency welcomes Government investment in local bus services, which brings the total funding to support them since 2022 to over £9.7 million.
The investment comes from the £80 million Bus Services Improvement Plan 2024-25 fund, which builds on the £80 million invested in 2023-24 and £1 billion invested in 2022.
It is also on top of a further £140 million announced in May from the extension of the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG), taking the total to continue supporting and protecting bus services across England to £300 million into 2025.
To help people with the cost of living and save on everyday travel costs, the Conservative Government have also invested £200 million to extend the bus fare cap, with single bus tickets capped at £2 across Essex until the end of October 2023 and then at £2.50 until 30 November 2024.
The £2 fare cap has cut travel costs, particularly in rural areas, where buses are crucial for residents without a car to get around, with the average fare dropping by 10.8 per cent in rural and non-metropolitan parts of England.
The measures take total Conservative Government support to protect and improve bus services while keeping fares low to £3.5 billion since 2020.
Commenting, Mrs Badenoch said:
“Investing in our local bus services is vital to ensure we have reliable services that keep our communities connected.
“This is why the Government has invested £3.5 billion in bus services since 2010, including over £9.7 million across Essex.
“The funding will continue to protect bus services alongside Government funded schemes such as DigiGo which offer an innovative approach to public transport in rural area like ours.”
