'We want £2 fare cap extended to all bus operators in Medway' - say's local Lib Dems candidate

Viv Parker, Medway Liberal Democrats candidate for Fort Horsted welcomes the news of the £2 fare cap in England that starts this month. Chalkwell bus company are among the companies which will introduce the upper limit for single fares from the start of January to the end of March. The cap will help passengers with the cost of travel for education, work and medical appointments amid the cost-of-living crisis.

The news to cap single bus fares at £2 will help families, students and commuters, and get people back on the bus. The scheme will also take car journeys off the road and it's fantastic to see so many bus operators signing up. However, not all bus companies in our region are signed up, and we are calling on Nu-Venture to join the scheme.

Bus services are inadequate for Davis Estate and Horsted, and Viv Parker is campaigning to get them improved. Anyone who has tried to catch a bus from Davis Estate knows how terrible the service has been since Covid. After the end of August 2022, they have reintroduced only two extra runs on weekdays. This means that the service finishes at 2pm, and the early morning runs have not been reinstated at all. This has resulted in hard-working people, who rely totally on getting the bus to their place of work, cannot earn a living.

So, Viv Parker has set up a petition that calls on Medway Council to sit down with the Nu-Venture bus company and determine ways they can fund the bus service on Davis Estate to ensure they can improve the frequency of services. You can sign our petition via the link at: https://signme.org.uk/2002

Viv said: "Local residents love buses. They're the most popular form of public transport in Medway, making up half of all journeys. Travelling for £2 on the bus both helps customers facing rising cost challenges and try a new travel option to get to work, education, public services or leisure, or see loved ones.

More people using buses is good for the economy, environment and wider society. And even better, child fares are being frozen at £1."

ENDS

Additional Notes for Editors:

Single local bus fares in England cost an average of £2.80 but can exceed £5 in rural areas, according to the DfT.
The "Get Around for £2" scheme, which will cost £60m, starts in England on 1 January and will run until the end of March.
It will see adult single fares capped at £2 on the routes included. The cost of a single local bus fare in England costs an average of £2.80, but can exceed £5 in some areas. It was first announced in September and aims to help people in the cost of living crisis.

Around 90% of operators, including Stagecoach and National Express, have signed up to the scheme in England although it does not apply to London.