Kemi Badenoch, Member of Parliament for the Saffron Walden constituency has welcomed the Government’s extension of the Bus Recovery Grant which will ensure local bus services in Chelmsford and Uttlesford are supported until June 2023.
This investment will also support an extension to the £2 Bus Fare Cap, used by operators across the constituency. The cap scheme has been saving passengers money and encouraging more people back on the bus.
During the pandemic, bus usage dropped as low as 10% of pre-pandemic levels, and the government has provided unprecedented financial support totalling more than £2 billion since March 2020.
The government’s existing £60 million investment to cap single bus fares has already shown early signs of increased bus use, with an independent survey of 1,000 people from passenger watchdog Transport Focus showing 7% of people saying they are using the bus more.
Commenting, Mrs Badenoch said:
“This intervention from Government is vital to keep local services running.
“The £2 fare cap has also been a welcome scheme for residents who regularly uses services across the constituency, including the successful DigiGo on-demand service set up following a successful Government funding bid, saving residents up to a 1/3 on their fare.
“We must use our local bus services to ensure we don’t lose them. So many of us rely on cars to get around the constituency which is why I am keen to work with Essex County Council and local operators to establish more innovative ways to improve our current services, making them more reliable, encouraging people to opt to get the bus.”
