Kent lecturer says bus investment in the county is 'a very useful improvement' as rural areas have become a 'desert' with poor service
The government have promised over £20 million in investment for Kent buses
Last updated 18th Nov 2024
A Kent lecturer has told us rural areas of the county should really benefit from new investment in bus services.
As part of the Better Buses Bill, Kent will receive 23 million pounds, with one aim being to protect local routes.
The investment will also keep fares down and deliver more reliable services.
The government say the investment will put an end to the 'bus postcode lottery, empower councils to take back control of services, and deliver a bus revolution.'
This government is delivering fair funding to ensure better services up and down the country, with £955 million earmarked to support bus services until 2026.
Marking a further step in the government's mission to deliver growth across the UK, Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh has confirmed £712 million funding for local authorities to improve bus services, and a further £243 million for bus operators - a longstanding grant paid to keep fares lower and services more frequent than they would otherwise be.
Roger Vickerman, Emeritus Professor of European Economics at the University of Kent, focuses his research on the relationship between transport and economic development.
He told Greatest Hits Radio "The attempt to identify need is important.
It's clear that a number of the large counties like Kent have suffered because they have large rural areas that have become something of a desert in terms of bus services."
He added that "the main roads in Kent are reasonably well served, but the smaller villages are basically not served at all, maybe once or twice a week."
In the Autumn Budget, the chancellor announced a rise in the bus fair cap from £2 to £3, and with this__ investment promising to keep fairs down, we asked Roger how these two promises work together.
He says "the two pound cap was meant to come to an end in December anyway, so the fact that there is a cap is important, particularly in Kent's rural areas where prices are higher.
Even at £3, for a large number of journeys, that is still a considerable reduction on what would be the price if it was at a commercial level."
The government say this investment is "part of a wider plan to put passengers first and give every community the power to take back control of their bus services through franchising or public ownership."
Roger told us that a franchise system "may not be the most suitable thing for the diverse county that Kent is, compared to the more metropolitan areas"
He did add that it is something that "clearly a number of similarly placed authorities are looking at as a way to take control and provide services that people really need."
Neil Baker, Kent County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “I very much welcome this new, essential funding for buses in Kent and look forward to finding out the details from the Department for Transport (DfT) in due course.
Along with the council’s public transport team, I’m also keen to work with the DfT so we have the best possible chance – on behalf of residents – to shape a vision for public transport to ensure people have a real choice to use buses more in the years ahead.
Like many local authorities, KCC is facing significant financial challenges.
We have supported Kent’s bus offer as far as sustainably possible, but additional external funding has been, and will continue to be, vital.
Making changes across the whole county won’t happen overnight and we need to look at a multi-year approach, delivering positive, long-term improvements.
I am hopeful this funding will continue the work we have already delivered through our Bus Service Improvement Plan, and will strengthen our relationship even more with our commercial partners, so that Kent’s bus network benefits those who need it most.”
The Buses Bill will be introduced in the coming weeks.