UP to one in seven bus services could be lost if ministers do not extend funding, an industry body has warned.
Passengers are getting increasingly worried about services being cut with many anxious about how they will get to work if local routes are cut, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has said.
The current funding deal to support services in England after demand fell during the pandemic expires at the end of June.
However, operators are required to give six weeks’ notice of cancelling or changing routes so they are eager for a new agreement to be secured by Friday.
The CPT has urged the Government to confirm long-term support as soon as possible.
Some 59% of bus users are worried about increased travel costs and being disconnected from work and leisure opportunities if services are reduced, according to a CPT survey of 2,050 people.
The poll showed 68% of low earners are anxious about how they would get to work if local bus services were cut. This rises to 71% of people who do not drive regularly.
The CPT warned 15% of services in England could be axed if the Government's bus recovery grant is not continued or replaced.
It said £260million a year would allow operators and local authorities to maintain services at current levels.
In February, the grant was extended for three months to June 30 at a cost of up to £8million.
Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “In a cost of living and climate crisis, our bus services are vital to keep Britain moving.
"Communities need action but the Tories’ have no plan, and their broken bus system is failing millions.
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“Labour will launch the biggest reform of bus services in a generation and hand power and control of our bus services back to communities who depend on them.”
CPT chief executive Graham Vidler said: "With over a million people travelling to work every day by bus, we know how important buses are to levelling up communities by keeping them connected to the jobs market.
"With the risk of service reductions looming, this new research shows that people are clearly worried about getting to work as well as having to spend more by travelling by car or being cut off all together.
"If the Government is really serious about levelling up and getting people back into the workplace, then it needs to back our buses for the long term."
A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "Since March 2020, we've invested over £2 billion to maintain bus routes, including a further £80 million to continue protecting vital bus routes until the end of June.
"To help with the cost of living as well as encourage more people back onto buses, we have also capped single tickets at £2 until the end of June, and allocated more than a billion pounds to improve services across England.
"We will set out future steps in due course."
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