Bus services across Kent, Surrey, and Sussex down 29% under the Conservatives

Local bus networks across Kent, Surrey, and Sussex have have declined by a shocking 29% percent since 2010, with over 8,600 services slashed nationwide in 14 years.

This national loss includes a cut of over 2,160 bus routes between 21/22 and 22/23 alone, the most recent reporting years.

Bus routes serving Crawley’s region have lost over 380 local routes under the current Government, drastically reducing residents’ opportunity to travel by public transport across the local area.

This trend is set to get worse still. Last March, the government confirmed it would reduce support for bus services by 23%, which would see almost 400 more services lost based on estimates from the Confederation of Passenger Transport.

Labour Metro Mayors are leading the way in the efforts to create the bus services their areas deserve, introducing £2 fares and building a London-style transport system, handing power and control back to communities.

A Labour Government will launch the biggest reform of Britain’s broken bus system in 40 years, by putting control over services back into the hands of the communities that depend on them.

Labour’s bus reform plan would do three things:

• Allow communities to take back control of bus services: Labour would give all local transport authorities the power to take back control of bus services, extending the opportunity to franchise services to every community (currently only available to metro mayors). Smaller local transport authorities will be offered expert advice and support to assist with the path towards franchising services, with the Bus Directorate in the Department for Transport refocussed to deliver support to local transport authorities.
• Lower the legal hurdles to franchising with a presumption in favour of franchising to end the costly and time-consuming hurdles which delay much needed reform, and prevent communities from having a say in how their bus services are run.
• Lift the legal ban on municipal bus ownership introduced by the Conservatives in 2017 following intensive lobbying by vested interests. This would allow communities that want to establish their own municipal bus network, building on the success of areas like Nottingham City Council which has the highest satisfaction ratings in the country.

Remarking upon the figures, Peter Lamb–Labour candidate for Crawley, said:

“Under the Conservatives, wages are falling, taxes are higher than at any point in living memory and our public services – from the NHS to local bus services – have being run into the ground.

“Bus routes provide an essential service to local communities, but every year more and more are lost, damaging local economies and holding residents.

“The Labour Party has a plan to build a better Britain and will put passengers first by allowing communities to take back control over their bus services.”