Local MP Robbie Moore has welcomed additional funding for Bus services across Keighley and Ilkley this week after the government announced a £155 million continuation of support for local services.
Designed to protect vital bus routes, the government’s support package extends the Bus Recovery Grant and the £2 Bus Fare Cap scheme until 30 June 2023.
The government’s existing £60 million investment to cap single bus fares had already shown early signs of increased bus use, with an independent survey of 1,000 people from passenger watchdog Transport Focus showing a 7% increase in passengers using bus services.
The announcement takes total government support for bus services across the country to more than £2 billion since March 2020 and comes after £830 million of government investment was confirmed for West Yorkshire.
Reacting to the news, Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore said:
“The government’s £155 million package of support to extend the Bus Recovery Grant and the £2 Bus Fare Cap scheme means more affordable fares for passengers across Keighley and Ilkley and the continuation of vital funding for our local bus services.
This announcement reaffirms the government’s commitment to investing in bus services in our area and follows £830 million of government investment in transport in West Yorkshire under the government’s flagship City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS).”
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:
"Travelling by bus remains the most popular option for commuters and families across the country, but the sector is still trying to recover after the end of the pandemic.
We’re providing £155 million to help passengers save money on fares, get more people on the bus and protect vital bus routes – helping with the cost of living and enabling people to get where they need to in an affordable and convenient way.
The recovery grant support comes in addition to government investment of £3 billion in bus services by 2025, including over £1 billion to improve fares, services and infrastructure.
In 2021, the government published the National Bus Strategy, and asked all English local transport authorities outside London to publish their Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs) setting out local visions for the step-change in bus services that is needed, driven by what passengers and would-be passengers want.
Since then, over £1 billion has been awarded to 34 counties, city regions and unitary authorities to deliver service improvements, bus priority and ambitious fares initiatives. In addition, £5.7 billion investment has been provided to 8 mayoral combined authorities in England to support integrated, cross-modal transport networks over the next 5 years through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), including supporting bus infrastructure."
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:
"I want to make bus travel affordable for all, that’s why we’re continuing to cap fares at £2 and protecting local routes, ensuring we have a modern and efficient network that’s accessible for everyone.
Getting more people onto reliable and affordable buses will strengthen communities and help grow the economy – connecting people to jobs, driving pensioners to see friends and family, and helping people attend medical appointments or access education.
I’m determined to ensure that no matter where you live, you have the same opportunities to get around easily and can feel pride in your local area – which is why protecting our local bus services is so important."
