Published: 11/13/2009
Surrey residents have asked the County Council to review the subsidised bus service as they are concerned about the level of empty buses travelling around Surrey.
The cost of subsidising the bus service has more than tripled in the last eight years; more than £11 million will be spent to run it this year alone. The aim is to provide a better, fairer bus service for users where it is most needed, whilst delivering maximum value for money for all Surrey taxpayers.
Ian Lake, Cabinet Member for Transport said: "It's about balancing affordability with demand, and our proposals do this whilst providing cash savings of up to £4 million over the next three to four years. There are no easy answers, but it would be irresponsible for us to continue supporting lesser used routes at the cost of ones that people use the most. At the same time we will endeavour to ensure that those with little or no access to transport are still supported – whether it be by traditional routes or via alternatives like, for example, our community transport schemes."
Mr Lake added: "It costs £1.7 million a year to run the school special routes, and yet the children who use them regularly represent only 4% of the 60,000 secondary school children living in Surrey. That's £750 a year in subsidy to transport each child to school. Clearly this is not financially sustainable for the long term. However we recognise there is a need, so we are working with schools across the phase one areas to explore solutions. Those pupils entitled to free school transport will continue to receive it."
For more information please go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/busreview.
