2 March 2022
St Helens Greens are backing calls by the Green Party nationally for the government to extend the Bus Recovery Grant – or face a ‘meltdown’ in local services.
The grant provides support for bus operators affected by the Coronavirus pandemic in England, but is due to end at the on 31 March. However, with passenger numbers around one third down on pre-Covid levels, the loss of the grant is predicted to lead to a massive cut in services [1].
Haydock Green councillor, David van der Burg, says:
“Bus services face meltdown unless operators continue to receive the Bus Recovery Grant to help them retain services and continue to build back passenger numbers after the pandemic. Services to Haydock and other areas are already affected by driver shortages – losing this grant support could finish them off.
“Many of our bus services provide vital connections to shops, hospitals, business parks, schools and colleges. If there are severe service cuts, as predicted, then many people who rely on bus services will be left isolated.”
The Green Party states that the government must honour Boris Johnson’s promised £3billion investment in bus services [2] and go further by retaining short term grants and then enabling local authorities to truly take back control of services.
St Helens Green Party transport spokesperson, Terry Price, adds:
“The industry needs a radical surgery. Private bus operators are driven by profit, meaning shareholders’ interests outweigh passenger need, poor pay and working conditions for drivers, and an emphasis on only the most profitable routes.
“We must see the levels of investment needed to end transport poverty and ensure estates and villages have an hourly bus service that will increase social mobility and equality [3].”
“As Greens we want to see councils like St Helens given the power to ensure bus services reflect all the principles of a public service – including setting routes, frequencies and fares.
“We also want to see the government encourage local authorities to drive a shift away from private cars towards public transport and active travel. Smart road pricing and measures such as a Workplace Parking Levy – successfully adopted in Nottingham – can help encourage this shift and raise funds to improve bus services.”
Looking forward, Greens are calling for a London-style system where fares, routes and timetables are managed by local authorities instead of private operators.
Notes [1] ‘Third of bus services could be cut within weeks’ without emergency government funding [2] Prime Minister launches £3 billion bus revolution [3] A bus for every village, every hour is possible - CPRE
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