Some subsidised bus routes which were recently axed in the wider Bristol region could soon be restored after a government U-turn on funding rules. The decision means passengers living in cut-off areas may once again be able to catch a bus, after many were left stranded.
The Department for Transport has given the West of England Combined Authority millions of pounds to spend on improving bus services in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, as well as North Somerset. But this cash comes with strict rules.
Previously money in the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) could only be spent on “new and innovative” policies to help fix the region’s ailing public transport network. This includes new services like the West Link minibuses, but not supporting normal routes with timetables.
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Earlier this year many subsidised bus routes were axed in the West of England, sparking a row about who is responsible for paying for these routes, which many people rely on. But the government has now relaxed its rules, and says the millions in BSIP funding can be used on paying for traditional subsidised bus routes, to serve rural and cut-off parts of the region.
However, it’s still unclear how much Dan Norris, mayor of the West of England, will spend on restoring bus routes which were recently axed. He said local councils were responsible for subsidised buses, but added his combined authority could spend over half a million pounds, during a West of England Combined Authority committee meeting on Friday, June 16.
Mr Norris said: “There’s a possibility that we’ve heard from the transport minister about using some of the BSIP funds from July 1 onwards in a more flexible way that might mean we can do something with regard to subsidised buses. But the devil will be in the detail. The information I’ve been given doesn’t make me hugely enthused or encouraged.
“But we’ll see, because there’s time before that happens and we might get some more information. I’m meeting with the minister fairly soon to discuss that among other things. So we’ll have to see. But what we’ll always try and do is support subsidised buses wherever we can. And the government has made available £515,000 for the West of England, and that’s clearly money that we’ll be using because it’s been specifically allocated for that.
“I would like local councils to work with me to try and make that money go as far as possible, because there are always going to be bus services that will never make money and are still socially important, and we’ve got to recognise that.”
Councillor Claire Young, the new Liberal Democrat leader of South Gloucestershire Council, added: “The services offer a key lifeline and link to work, education and healthcare for so many in South Gloucestershire. With the rules around how WECA can use the BSIP money changing, it’s vital we take this opportunity to work together to deliver the bus services and links that have been lost.”
But the row about who should pay for subsidised bus routes, and who is responsible for leaving some passengers stranded after their routes were axed, is still ongoing. The three councils within the West of England pay the combined authority a transport levy, which is then paid to bus companies to operate routes that are socially important but unprofitable.
Rapidly rising costs have hit the bus industry particularly hard with some estimating inflation at a whopping 40 per cent. This has left the three councils struggling to increase their transport levy in line with inflation, effectively cutting their funding for buses in real terms. However, this was disputed by Cllr Sarah Warren, the Liberal Democrat cabinet member for sustainable transport at Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES) Council.
Cllr Warren said: “You [Dan Norris] have stated that unitary authorities have cut their contribution for supported bus services in real terms, and in [our] case that is not true: we have increased our contribution by 30 per cent in this financial year. You’ve also said that supported bus services are the responsibility of local councils, and that’s not true: you’re the leader of the transport authority which is responsible for bus services.
“If we did have full control over the BSIP funds — as our neighbours in Wiltshire, Somerset and Gloucestershire do — we would not be in this position of the bus services being cut, because we in BaNES would ensure that they would not be cut.
“It’s absolutely not true this statement you keep making that there has been a real terms cut in funding by BaNES. We’ve increased our contribution by 30 per cent. The issue is that the cost of the services that came back was 200 per cent higher. That’s the problem.”
The West of England mayor denied this and placed the blame on local councils, rather than his combined authority. He added that BaNES had last year not increased their levy in line with inflation, and claimed Cllr Warren was being “disingenuous, deceptive and devious.”
Mr Norris said: “I just have to say you’re completely wrong. I have responsibility for public transport, that’s true, and I’m very happy to take that responsibility on. But the one area I don’t is subsidised buses and the transport levy. You determine Sarah, BaNES council determines which bus routes would run to get you over the election period.
“You made an extension on whether there would be bus cuts to get you past that. I didn’t choose the routes, because if it had been done by me it would have been based on evidence and need. You chose the routes which left North East Somerset devastated, frankly. And that’s something you’ll have to deal with.
“Let’s go through your figures. 30 per cent increase in this financial year, but 18 months ago your leader said he would be prepared to put an increase in the transport levy of up to 10 per cent. Guess what it was, anyone want to speculate how much it ended up being? Five per cent you reckon, anyone else? Zero per cent, that’s what it was, zero per cent.
“Inflation in the transport industry, and the bus industry in particular, is over 40 per cent. That means real terms cut Sarah, and you can’t duck it. You may have increased in this financial year something by 30 per cent, but if I say I’m going to make a cut of £100 then I’ll give you £10 back six months later, that’s still a cut of £90. It’s still a cut.
“It’s such a disingenuous, mean-spirited, deceptive, devious thing to do. You’ve been so untruthful about it Sarah, you should be ashamed.”
Cllr Warren replied: “This is a misrepresentation, and that is all I will say.”
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