Many local bus services could be at risk as essential funding comes to an end in the Autumn, Wokingham Borough Council has said. 

The covid-19 pandemic hit bus operators particularly hard, with passenger numbers dropping dramatically. The government provided nearly £1m to support the services during this period but the grant will stop in September.  

As of May this year, passenger numbers had only recovered to 77 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. 

The council’s new executive is facing “difficult decision” so routes continue to operate and accused the previous administration of not allocating “additional budget” to keep them running. 

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The executive member for active travel, transport and highways, councillor Paul Fishwick, said the council is working alongside local operators to “find an effective solution” to the problems.  

“No decisions have been made, but we are having to look at potential changes to several routes,” he added. 

The former executive member for highways and transport, and new leader of the Wokingham Conservatives, Pauline Jorgennsen, said the council has “misunderstood the position” on bus funding. 

“We recognised that there was a potential for bus travel recovery to be slower than planned and that commercial bus services could be at risk as a result when the government funding ceased.  

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“[…] I allocated a very substantial amount of money to help support the routes and mitigate against short notice withdrawal of local bus services, until the end of the year 22/23,” she added. 

The routes that are under review include the Tiger 7, which the council has committed funding to until September but are seeking for a longer-term solution, the Leopard 3,8 and 9, and the 19A, B and C, which will continue whilst future options are discussed. 

The council is looking at alternatives for the 93 service as Reading Buses has indicated that it is not viable to continue. Thames Valley Buses 121, 122/3, 124, 125A/B, 127, and 128/9 will have their contracts extended until April 2023. 

Fuel and driver costs make up over 50 per cent of the operational costs of running a bus service, which makes the industry highly vulnerable to inflation.   

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One of the administration’s key priorities is to provide good alternatives to the car to encourage more residents to walk, cycle and take the buses instead. 

“We recognise the importance of local bus services to our residents and the role a good network plays in offering greener and healthier travel alternatives.  

“This is an important part of reducing congestion, getting our residents more active and helping towards our climate emergency, which is another of our key priorities,” Cllr Fishwick said. 

The council leader, Cllr Clive Jones stressed that “more people need to use the buses” if the network is to continue. 

“I urge residents to take the bus wherever they can as they are safe, convenient and far more beneficial to the environment than driving,” he added.