Wiltshire misses out on Government funding for bus services
The Council say they're 'disappointed'
There'll be no extra funding for Wiltshire Council from the Government to put towards improving and increasing bus usage across the county.
31 local authorities have been given money, but Wiltshire is one of those missing out on the £7 billion National Bus Strategy, as it's called.
Wiltshire Council say they're 'disappointed' not to have been included, after submitting a plan in November 2021, setting out how the cash would be used here.
They've said the local application was 'designed to support the local economy by improving access to shops and businesses; help vulnerable and elderly residents to access essential services; reduce carbon emissions; and support leisure and tourism'.
Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
“We’re extremely disappointed that, alongside more than half of the other local authorities who submitted a bid, we’ve missed out on this funding. Council officers worked hard to produce a comprehensive and ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plan to support and improve bus services in Wiltshire – services that are vital in a rural county such as ours.
“If we had been successful, this funding would have enabled us to reduce fares and invest in new services for our most vulnerable residents and attract new users, but we will now no longer be able to make these investments at this time for the people of Wiltshire and visitors to our county.
“Bus services are still a priority for us and having well-connected communities is a key part of our business plan. We know that buses help to reduce congestion, improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions, as well as saving people money, particularly as petrol prices continue to rise.
“However, we’ll now need to regroup, and rethink our approach as we look to the future for bus services and transport in Wiltshire.”