£139m funding boost allocated to bus services

The UK government is set to inject hundreds of millions of pounds into bus services across the South and West of England. The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed that this funding, scheduled from 2026 to 2029, aims to make local bus travel more dependable and accessible.

Local councils in these regions will share 139 million to enhance bus operations and upgrade transport infrastructure. The initiative forms part of a broader 3 billion nationwide transport investment. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasized that this funding will enable local authorities to maintain lower fares, increase service frequency, and ensure reliable transport that communities rely on.

The three-year financial commitment is intended to provide councils with planning stability, moving away from short-term, year-by-year budgeting for bus services. Recent reports highlighted that rural bus services in the West of England were experiencing consistent declines, underlining the need for targeted investment.

Funding allocations for councils in the West over the next three years include:

• North Somerset Council: 9.1 million
• Somerset County Council: 13.1 million
• West of England Combined Mayoral Authority (WECA): 42.4 million
• Wiltshire Council: 12.6 million
• Gloucestershire County Council: 14.5 million

WECA Mayor Helen Godwin described the funding as "a strong endorsement of the new direction we are taking in the West," highlighting schemes such as Kids Go Free, which provides children with free bus travel during school holidays and will continue through the upcoming festive season. She added that the three-year settlement will allow ongoing collaboration with councils to develop a more efficient bus network.

Additional funding allocations include 6.8 million for Dorset, 24.8 million for Hampshire, and 15.4 million for Oxfordshire. Recent proposals to reduce bus services in parts of Hampshire sparked protests, while some planned cuts in western Dorset were reversed following public response.

Minister for Roads and Buses Simon Lightwood stated that passengers have long faced "unreliable services, outdated bus stations, and over a decade of route reductions," highlighting the significance of the new investment for local communities.

Author: Lucas Grant