Future of subsidised buses in Maidenhead area under review
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s cabinet will next week deliberate proposals on how to provide these bus services beyond 2024
The future of subsidised bus service provision is set to be discussed by the council amid spiralling costs and declining passenger numbers.
At present, around half of bus routes are currently subsidised, with the council investing £1.1m per year in supporting them.
Cabinet members will consider options in an officers’ report – which notes that factors including the pandemic, falling passengers numbers, inflation and supplier costs have impacted upon the choices.
RBWM’s transport lead councillor Geoff Hill said:
“Our bus contracts are more than five years old but things have changed significantly since before the pandemic and we have seen a change in passenger behaviour and reduction in passenger numbers, alongside increased running costs for bus companies and the council.
“Additional temporary funding has been used to support subsidised bus services in our borough to keep them running, and we now need to use this breathing space to look at the options for providing affordable and sustainable services for our residents longer-term, services that are well used, well run and provide value for money.
“Unfortunately, this will mean some changes to how services are provided, but Cabinet will be carefully considering these officer proposals in detail next week.”
The reports’ recommended course of action is to approve redesign proposals and authorise a tender process.
Approval to award would be set for consideration by cabinet in March, and new contracts would start in August if approved.
The proposals will be discussed by cabinet on Wednesday, September 27.