Council bus cuts to hit environment

Two-thirds of British local authorities are looking to cut public transport use, according to a report released this morning (February 3).


According to sustainable transport group Campaign for Better Transport 70% of local authorities plan major cuts to their bus budgets, with some planning to cut all their supported bus services and 14 councils cutting support by more than £1m each.

The campaign argues that cutting services, many of which are loss making and therefore subsidised by councils, will force people back into their cars and push up our Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.

Campaign for Better Transport’s chief executive, Stephen Joseph, said: “The Government said spending cuts would be socially fair, but cuts to bus services will hit the poorest and most vulnerable hardest.

“We believe any short term savings will be outweighed by the long term cost of a vastly depleted bus network.

“These unprecedented cuts will be especially disastrous for people on low incomes and could effectively mean the death of rural bus services.

“Politicians must consider the social, economic and environmental consequences of failing to protect our bus services.”

Luke Walsh

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