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You'll notice bus cuts when your neighbours lose their independence You'll notice bus cuts when your neighbours lose their independence
(7 months later)
For five years colossal cuts to local bus services have decimated provision across much of Britain yet, despite the impact on people’s lives, the losses have failed to register in the same ways as cuts to other public services.For five years colossal cuts to local bus services have decimated provision across much of Britain yet, despite the impact on people’s lives, the losses have failed to register in the same ways as cuts to other public services.
At a time when almost nothing in local government has been left unscathed by the budget-slashing scythe you may wonder if cash being shaved from bus services matters. It does – immensely.At a time when almost nothing in local government has been left unscathed by the budget-slashing scythe you may wonder if cash being shaved from bus services matters. It does – immensely.
Every day millions of people rely on local buses to get to work, school, their GPs, supermarkets, and even to stave off isolation and loneliness. Research shows that for older and poorer people, as well as for those with disabilities, buses can be the difference between being able to get around and feeling trapped, especially in rural areas with few other options. Buses are critical to the economy of local communities too, ensuring people can get to or find employment, and can spend their money with local businesses.Every day millions of people rely on local buses to get to work, school, their GPs, supermarkets, and even to stave off isolation and loneliness. Research shows that for older and poorer people, as well as for those with disabilities, buses can be the difference between being able to get around and feeling trapped, especially in rural areas with few other options. Buses are critical to the economy of local communities too, ensuring people can get to or find employment, and can spend their money with local businesses.
But here we are with cuts to services already running into millions of pounds and another tranche on the horizon. The Campaign for Better Transport has published some alarming new research on cuts to supported bus services in England and Wales – those that receive funding from local authorities and often cover non-metropolitan or isolated routes.But here we are with cuts to services already running into millions of pounds and another tranche on the horizon. The Campaign for Better Transport has published some alarming new research on cuts to supported bus services in England and Wales – those that receive funding from local authorities and often cover non-metropolitan or isolated routes.
Massive cuts of more than £27m are on the cards, and many isolated and rural areas will be left “with little or no bus services”. The campaigners have launched an interactive map to show exactly where the hatchet is falling.Massive cuts of more than £27m are on the cards, and many isolated and rural areas will be left “with little or no bus services”. The campaigners have launched an interactive map to show exactly where the hatchet is falling.
Some rural bus services are being stripped right down or even wiped out. Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Somerset, Dorset, West Berkshire, Wiltshire, Hertfordshire, North Yorkshire and Lancashire are all planning a fresh round of particularly worrying belt-tightening, according to the findings. David Cameron’s local council, Oxfordshire, is scheduled to introduce some of the largest cuts of all, at £3.7m.Some rural bus services are being stripped right down or even wiped out. Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Somerset, Dorset, West Berkshire, Wiltshire, Hertfordshire, North Yorkshire and Lancashire are all planning a fresh round of particularly worrying belt-tightening, according to the findings. David Cameron’s local council, Oxfordshire, is scheduled to introduce some of the largest cuts of all, at £3.7m.
As part of its work to try and protect the £345m grant given to bus operators by the Department for Transport, the Campaign for Better Transport has detailed the extent of the pummelling subsidised bus services have taken. The research shows that 63% of councils in England and Wales cut bus funding between 2015/2016 while 44% removed or withdrew services.As part of its work to try and protect the £345m grant given to bus operators by the Department for Transport, the Campaign for Better Transport has detailed the extent of the pummelling subsidised bus services have taken. The research shows that 63% of councils in England and Wales cut bus funding between 2015/2016 while 44% removed or withdrew services.
Since 2010, local authorities in England and Wales have cut £78m in total and more than 2,400 routes were reduced or withdrawn. In England a quarter has been slashed from subsidised bus budgets since 2010/2011 – a loss of £73.8m.Since 2010, local authorities in England and Wales have cut £78m in total and more than 2,400 routes were reduced or withdrawn. In England a quarter has been slashed from subsidised bus budgets since 2010/2011 – a loss of £73.8m.
It’s not that councils want to cut back services. They know that access to affordable, regular, transport can help prevent the sort of loneliness and depression that sees vulnerable people turning to other (expensive) services, including health and social care. To say cutting bus services is a false economy is an understatement.It’s not that councils want to cut back services. They know that access to affordable, regular, transport can help prevent the sort of loneliness and depression that sees vulnerable people turning to other (expensive) services, including health and social care. To say cutting bus services is a false economy is an understatement.
Related: David Cameron’s mother has spoken out against cuts - will her son finally listen? | Patrick Butler
“Councils know how important buses are for their communities and local economies and are desperate to protect them,” says the Local Government Association’s spokesman for transport, Peter Box. “Instead, many are reluctantly taking difficult decisions to scale back services and review subsidised routes.”“Councils know how important buses are for their communities and local economies and are desperate to protect them,” says the Local Government Association’s spokesman for transport, Peter Box. “Instead, many are reluctantly taking difficult decisions to scale back services and review subsidised routes.”
When the initial “efficiencies” were implemented, the political rhetoric that accompanied them positioned budget slashing as essential and unavoidable. The cuts were also hailed as tackling waste and council overspending and – and plenty of people thought they wouldn’t be affected.When the initial “efficiencies” were implemented, the political rhetoric that accompanied them positioned budget slashing as essential and unavoidable. The cuts were also hailed as tackling waste and council overspending and – and plenty of people thought they wouldn’t be affected.
But here we are, half a decade after Britain was marched down the path of austerity, and the true impact of an astonishing array of cuts is beginning to sink in to those who thought they were immune.But here we are, half a decade after Britain was marched down the path of austerity, and the true impact of an astonishing array of cuts is beginning to sink in to those who thought they were immune.
You may not need to use local public transport, but if you notice that your elderly neighbour is losing their independence because the bus they rely on has been stopped, maybe the seriousness of these public service cuts will hit home. After all, that’s what’s happened to the prime minister’s own relatives.You may not need to use local public transport, but if you notice that your elderly neighbour is losing their independence because the bus they rely on has been stopped, maybe the seriousness of these public service cuts will hit home. After all, that’s what’s happened to the prime minister’s own relatives.
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