No. 84/85 bus service in South Gloucestershire
The petition of residents of Gloucestershire,
Declares that the No. 84 and 85 Yate & Wotton-under-Edge Circular bus service should be re-instated.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to consider the needs of rural areas when allocating funding for bus services, and to take steps to encourage the re-instatement of the No.84 and 85 Yate & Wotton-under-Edge Circular bus service in South Gloucestershire.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Dr Simon Opher, Official Report, 28 November 2024; Vol. 757, c. 1000.]
[P003022]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood):
The Government are determined to deliver better bus services throughout the country and are committed to working closely with local transport authorities, bus operators and passengers to ensure that vital bus services truly reflect the needs of the local communities that rely on them. We know that a modern transport network is vital to kickstarting economic growth, providing access to services and preventing isolation, while improving air quality and tackling climate change.
As part of the Budget, the Government confirmed investment of £955 million for the 2025-26 financial year to support and improve bus services. Gloucestershire county council has been allocated over £8 million of this funding for 2025-26 alone. The additional bus funding can be used to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities. When allocating this funding, the Government have sought to target this funding where it is most needed. Every region in England will benefit from the funding, but particularly those areas which have been historically underserved, like rural areas and small towns.
Although the Government do not intervene on decisions regarding individual bus routes as they believe that local leaders are best placed to make decisions about local transport in their communities, the Government have set out their plan to deliver a better bus network. This plan is based around giving local leaders the powers they need and empowering them to choose the model that works best in their area, whether that be franchising, strengthened enhanced partnerships, or local authority-owned bus companies.
As announced in the King’s Speech, the Government will shortly introduce a buses Bill to put decision making into the hands of local leaders right across England. As part of the Bill, the Government are considering a local network management measure that would give local authorities the power to ensure any reductions to bus services are made only where necessary.
The Government believe this plan will create and save vital bus routes, bringing to an end the postcode lottery that currently determines the quality of bus services by giving local leaders the tools they need to deliver an improved network. The Government will continue to work closely with local transport authorities and bus operators to ensure we can deliver the services that passengers and communities rely on.