Subsidised bus routes in borough could be at risk

BUS routes in Hinckley which are subsidised by Leicestershire County Council could be cut under a new passenger transport policy and strategy.

A consultation launched on March 21, running until June 13, sets out routes run by commercial operators but funded partially or in full by the county council.

With further budget cuts needing to be made, the authority is seeking ways to save cash in passenger support services which help provide essential transport in areas not covered by public transport.

Setting out the reason for the consultation, the council said: “We’re consulting over the next 12 weeks on a new passenger transport policy and strategy which will help to ensure we meet our statutory duties, while achieving the best use of money in supporting local passenger transport services.

“One of the ways to make the best use of money available is to ensure passenger transport services best meet the essential transport needs of people in attending health appointments, making shopping trips and, in some cases, into employment.

“The findings of consultation will the be reported back to Cabinet at a later date.”

The consultation document, available on the county council’s website, said commercial operators had warned some routes could be a risk without council subsidies.

It goes on to say where subsidised bus routes are not providing value for money, alternatives will now be considered.

Routes considered likely to be discontinued include Arriva and Hinckleybus services 3 between Burbage Three Pots and Hinckley and 66 Dadlington Diversion route.

Those facing a risk of being axed include the Arriva Hinckleybus route 8 between Lutterworth and Hinckley.

Some routes, those more widely used, are considered safe and include the number 66 and number 7 Hinckley Town routes and the X55 between Hinckley and Fosse Park.

Where routes are at risk, other transport alternatives will be considered instead of subsidising commercial operators.

The consultation document said: “The main impact of the proposed policy and strategy will be a likely reduction in the number of subsidised bus services.

“However, this does not mean that areas currently served by such buses would no longer have a passenger transport service in future.

“For bus services that the council currently supports financially, contracts come to an end in June 2019.

“Should the policy and strategy be approved, the county council will review these services against the proposed criteria for financial support to bus services.

“Should continuing to provide a subsidised bus service no longer be appropriate, we would engage with local communities to consider alterna- tive service provision, such as local transport solutions or lifeline demand responsive transport.”

The full consultation document can be read at the Leicestershire County Council website.

To submit your views, please fill out the consultation survey and make sure it reaches us by midnight on 13 June 2018 at the latest.

The survey is available online at www.leicestershire.gov.uk/passengertransport-consultation

Paper copies of the survey are available on request by calling 0116 305 0002.