Stuart Anderson is delighted that Shropshire is set to receive a further £1.4 million to improve and protect local bus services in the area. It is one of 64 local authorities across England to receive the £80 million investment. This investment means that the Council can progress with its bus service improvement plan – helping to lower fares and improve bus reliability.
The funding is part of the Government’s long-term approach to protecting and improving bus services, backed by an additional £300 million until April 2025. It can be used to protect and enhance bus services and support local fares initiatives, ensuring that residents can continue to access their local bus to get to work, the shops, and important appointments – while delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy. It follows an initial £1.4 million that was allocated for Shropshire for 2023 to 2024 as well as an annual grant of £500,000 through the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG).
Stuart has also welcomed recent statistics which show that bus fares in rural England have dropped by 11% - thanks to the Government’s £2 fare cap, set up to help people with the cost of living save on everyday travel costs. Over 50 million single bus tickets were sold in England over January and February 2023 alone, two-thirds of which were capped. The overall price of bus fares in England, outside London, has dropped by 7.4%, mainly due to the extension of the scheme. Stuart said that he is pleased that this initiative has particularly benefitted rural areas, where buses are crucial for so many people to get around. Average fares dropped by 10.8% in rural and non-metropolitan parts of England.
When adjusted for inflation, local bus fares in England, outside of London, for April to June 2023 are now comparable to those seen in 2007. Stuart endorsed the Government’s decision to extend the ‘Get Around for £2’ scheme until 31 October and to continue to run it at £2.50 until the end of November 2024, thanks to £200 million in government investment. This takes total spending to keep fares low and support buses to £3.5 billion since 2020. Stuart also recently launched a campaign to bring more zero emission buses to Shropshire as part of his pledge to improve public services, including local transport systems. The Government said that £25 million has been prioritised specifically for rural communities. It brings total government investment in new zero-emission buses to almost £500 million.
Stuart Anderson said: “I am delighted that Shropshire is set to benefit from an extra £1.4 million to improve local bus services. We have also benefitted from the £2 fare cap, which has cut travel costs – especially in rural areas, where buses are vital for people to get around. This reflects the Government’s ongoing commitment to levelling up transport connectivity in rural areas and is complemented by its long-term approach to protecting and improving bus services, totalling £3.5 billion since 2020. This will help to keep fares down and maintain services that may otherwise be unviable.”
Lord Benyon, Minister for Rural Affairs, said: “We are putting the needs of people and businesses in rural areas at the heart of policy-making. Bus services are a vital part of this, as a lifeline for communities and in supporting local businesses in our rural economy. By easing the cost of transport in some of our most remote areas, we can help bring people together and build on the wider work we are doing to help rural communities thrive.”
Roads Minister Richard Holden said: “Our ‘Get Around for £2’ scheme has slashed overall bus fares for millions across England, as we continue to help people save money on travel, boost transport connections and grow the economy. Whether you want to visit loved ones, head to work or attend a medical appointment, taking the bus continues to be a vital link for people to get around.”
