Transport Research & Action Group
The Transport Research & Action Group sent the following letter to local press during March 2016, regarding changes to bus services:-
Surrey County Council (SCC) is currently undertaking a consultation exercise regarding proposed changes to bus services to be implemented in September. The main objective of this consultation is to identify those changes that can be made to reduce the level of financial support currently paid to bus companies to operate services which cannot be provided commercially but meet identified social needs. Like all other local authorities Surrey is not alone in proposing reductions and withdrawals in bus service to achieve savings to “balance the books” following significant reductions in grants received from central government. Bus services are particularly vulnerable when cuts have to be made since there is no mandatory level of service that has to be operated and indeed there is no obligation on any local authority to subsidise any bus service. SCC has, however, over the years always provided a higher level of bus subsidies when compared with surrounding local authorities and is likely to continue to do so but at a lower level than currently provided.
Surrey’s bus network can, however, best be described as being basic which for most people provides transport of last resort when no private transport is available – for some such as the elderly, those unable to drive due to medical conditions and young mothers with pushchairs bus services are a lifeline. On many routes evening and Sunday services have long since disappeared and the latest proposed cuts will see whole communities (Shackleford, Hurtmore, Charterhouse, Compton and Sunnydown) lose their bus service. For Ockford Bridge and Aaron’s Hill the present daytime service operating every 30 minutes would be replaced by a diversion of a longer distance bus service which would only operate hourly and take a longer “all round the houses” route between Godalming and Guildford. Elsewhere the proposals include the withdrawal of the section of route between Badshot Lea and Aldershot.
Whilst recognising the financial difficulties facing all local authorities the savings currently being sought of £2 million per annum represents just 0.12% of SCC’s total budget. The net savings are also likely to be even less since the reduction and withdrawal of bus services will result in greater social isolation particularly amongst the elderly giving rise to additional welfare and health care costs to meet the needs of these vulnerable groups. It is, therefore, very questionable whether there will be any overall savings in total public expenditure and before any final decisions are made regarding the level of bus subsidies to be paid full consideration needs to be given to the other consequences on public expenditure should further cuts in bus services be made.
Click on the following link for full details of the changes currently subject to consultation :-
https://www.surreysays.co.uk/e-i-directorate-programme-group/ltr/consult_view
With all the additional housing proposed across all of Surrey further reductions in bus service will also not help to ensure that such developments conform to current Government guidance as outlined in the NPPF that all new developments should be sustainable. At the very least the existing level of bus service needs to be maintained. The net savings to be achieved from the proposed changes amount to “a drop in the ocean” relative to SCC’s total expenditure. In addition there has also been the significant cost of undertaking the consultation exercise itself which should be offset against the savings estimated to be achieved. If you share my opinion that the proposed bus cuts will only result in social isolation resulting in additional social and welfare costs that will reduce if not be even greater than the savings to be achieved please respond to the consultation document – representations have to be submitted by 14th March either online at surreycc.gov.uk/transportreview or by completing the Have Your Say booklet that has been published.
David Beaman
Convenor Transport Working Group
South West Surrey Compass