Bus services are a lifeline for lots of people.
Whether it’s getting to work or school, doctor or dental appointments, or heading into town to meet up with friends, many will struggle if services stop.
Earlier this year I called for key services to be saved as Kent County Council consulted on plans to reduce the number of subsidised routes across the county.
While I understand the challenges faced by KCC, it’s crucial that any changes to services are kept to an absolute minimum. This is particularly important for elderly residents and school children who often rely on subsided routes the most.
That’s why I’ve called for KCC to be allowed to spend money from their Bus Service Improvement Plan on continuing to subsidise existing services.
The £35 million that Kent received for their Bus Service Improvement Plan is great news for our local bus network, with improved bus stops and lanes. But I know that people are concerned about losing some of the services we already have.
My proposal would be a timely and common sense approach as we continue to get our transport network back on track after the pandemic.
I’ll continue to work with Councillors, bus operators, and Ministers to deliver better buses for people in Faversham and Mid Kent.
