THE GOVERNMENT has announced a £130m support package to help bus services keep on motoring.
Full details have yet to be unveiled detailing the areas that will receive the funds, but the aim is to support bus services and routes as the nation comes out of the pandemic.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “This funding will ensure millions across the country can continue to use vital bus services, and brings the total we’ve provided to the sector throughout the pandemic to almost £2 billion.
“At a time when people are worried about rising costs, it’s more important than ever we save these bus routes for the millions who rely on them for work, school and shopping.”
It is in addition to a £3 billion investment in bus services by 2025, including over £1 billion to improve fares, services and infrastructure, and a further £525 million for zero emission buses – it is hoped that Reading Borough Council will benefit from this package. While it has been informed it will receive £26m over three years, this has yet to be confirmed.
The news comes days after Reading Buses announced that fares will increase from next month, and some services will see alterations to timetables.
A spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said that the company was not the only one having to make tweaks as a result of the government support ending, as well as inflationary cost pressures and changes in travel patterns resulting from the pandemic.
“While Reading Buses is Council-owned, it is a commercial company which means decisions are made on a commercial basis by the company itself,” they told Reading Today.
“The Council, or any neighbouring Council, is not legally able to influence decisions on fares.”
They continued: “It is important to note that Reading Borough Council has not removed any funding for any bus services. On the contrary, the Council have been indicatively been awarded £26m Government funding through our Bus Service Improvement Plan to improve bus services across Reading.
“This was one of the highest funding awards in the country.
“While we await final confirmation from Government of this funding, as acknowledged by Reading Buses in the letter, a successful bid would allow enhancements of local bus services and a possible fare reduction scheme in the future.
“We hope to hear back from the Government on our bid in the near future. “
