Lib Dems outraged as Medway received nothing from Government’s £1 billion pot for bus service improvements

Medway Liberal Democrats have slammed the Government for not providing a single penny to improve and protect local bus services - while other areas have received hundreds of millions of pounds.

In late 2021 Medway Council, alongside all other Local Transport Authorities in England, bid for funding to carry out Bus Service Improvement Plans. However the Government made only a fraction of promised funding available and in April it was announced Medway would receive no funding at all. Local Lib Dem Candidate for Fort Horsted, Viv Parker is calling for Medway to receive its fair share.

Viv said, "It is scandalous that our area has been completely ignored by the Government on such a vital issue. Local buses are a lifeline for many people in our towns'. Thousands of residents rely on them each and every day to get to work, school, appointments and to see friends and family. Bus passenger numbers in Medway declined during the pandemic. Emergency funding that has been keeping many commercial operators going runs out in October 2022. Action is needed now to make sure our local routes are protected.

That's why local Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government, to provide the funding that is required to make our local bus provision fit for the future. We are also calling on the Government to make a significant proportion of this money 'revenue funding' - so that it can be spent directly on more bus services and improving fare prices."

Viv Parker has launched a petition to protect Davis Estate bus services from further cuts and restore the bus route to back to its previous timetable. You can sign our petition via the link at: https://signme.org.uk/2002

Viv added, "The bus service to the estate is a lifeline to so many local people. The reduction of the frequency of the service has been cut residents off from shops, services, medical appointments, and even friends and family for long periods of each day. We understand that no-one wants to the cut bus routes, and bus operators are under significant pressure at the moment. We would encourage all local residents to sign the petition as soon as possible. The more signatures we have the more weight the petition will hold.

We need to be working in very close partnership with our local bus operators to meet the challenges that lie ahead. But we can only do this with adequate funding and that's what the local Lib Dems are fighting to get."
ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Authorities that tended to miss out were more rural unitaries or larger counties with more dispersed populations and smaller teams dedicated to public transport. DfT encouraged LTAs that did not receive any BSIP funding to implement any aspects of their plan that do not require new funding, such as creating a passenger charter and improved information.

It also provided a further capacity grant for a dedicated Bus Enhanced Partnership Officer to help deliver such measures and appropriate training through the Bus Centre of Excellence. LTAs were also directed to other funding streams. Having an Enhanced Partnership in place (or working towards franchising) will also be required to access the Bus Service Operators Grant from other discretionary funds in the future