Bedford’s opposition councillors are claiming a victory after the council’s Executive Committee report says it will reinstate funding for axed bus routes.
After bus-users in Goldington, Kempston, Putnoe, and Shortstown had their services cut earlier this year, Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors launched a cross-party ‘Save our Buses’ campaign, presenting petitions to the council.
The new report follows the Council Executive meeting on Wednesday, 16 September and says: “Progress has been made across all areas identified in the motions passed by Full Council.
“The strengthened engagement with operators, improved transparency, and enhanced Member involvement provide a more robust foundation for delivering a bus network that will help future meet the needs of Bedford Borough residents [and] bus users.”
It states that grant funding has been reallocated, for services to run to the following locations:
- Hillgrounds Road
- Saxon Centre
- South Wing Hospital
- Bedford Bus Station
- North Wing Hospital
- Putnoe Lane
- Woodlands Park
- Bedford Train Station
- Abbeyfields
There will be a minimum hourly frequency and buses will run from 07.30 to 19.30, Monday to Saturday.
The Council says it is also working with schools and colleges, including Bedford College, to explore a shift from private transport contracts to mainstream public bus services.
“Councillors were right to make sure their concerns were heard”
Bedford Borough’s elected mayor, Tom Wootton (Conservative), told the Bedford Independent: “I want to thank the portfolio holder for environment [Cllr Nicola Gribble] and our council officers for the work they have been doing to improve and restore bus connections for residents affected by recent service cuts.
“We know how important these buses are. People rely on them to get to work, education attend hospital appointments, do their shopping and see friends and family.
“Residents were right to raise their concerns. And councillors from across the Council were right to make sure those concerns were heard.
“But raising a problem and solving it are two different things.”
Mayor Wootton said that over the last few months he has been meeting bus operators alongside Cllr Gribble and senior Council officers to find “practical and sustainable solutions”.
As a result, he said: “The Executive has now agreed to redirect grant funding towards replacement services, subject to affordability.
“The aim is to provide buses at least hourly, Monday to Saturday, connecting communities with important destinations including our hospitals, stations and areas not currently served.”
“Judge us not by who claims the credit, but by whether a reliable bus turns up”
The Mayor said that developing the proposals has “required difficult choices”.
“The money had already been allocated to other bus-related work, so developing these proposals has meant reviewing priorities and working with operators to establish what can realistically be delivered.
“There is still work to do. Residents will rightly judge all of us not by who claims the credit, but by whether a reliable bus turns up when they need it.”
Portfolio holder for environment, Cllr Nicola Gribble (Independent/Renhold and Ravensden) said: “Improving public transport is a priority for our residents, and I want to thank our officers for their continued hard work and commitment to building a sustainable network for the future.
“We recognise that public transport is a complex area, with many regulations and processes that can take time to navigate.
“However, we are working closely with our partners and elected members to deliver meaningful improvements and ensure our residents have a service that is better, more reliable and more responsive to their needs.”
Opposition councillors: “Welcome news”
Cllr James Valentine (Labour/Kempston West) welcomed the news, but said opposition councillors would continue to hold the council leaders to account.
“The Labour Group is pleased that efforts to restore Borough bus services finally appear to be paying off, following the unanimous acceptance by Full Council of our ‘Save Our Buses’ petition through a joint motion on 1 July,” he said.
“The cuts to the 53 and 53a services in particular have caused huge concern in our communities, especially among older residents.
“It is welcome news that grant funding has now been reallocated, and we will continue to press for more detail on the routes and timings of the restored services.”
Cllr Michael Headley (Liberal Democrats/Putnoe) said he receives emails on a weekly basis from constituents who have been left stranded by the cuts to bus services.
“In all my time in the council I have never known an issue cause so much concern as the recent bus service cuts,” he said.
Thanking resdients who signed the petitions, he said: “The Council finally seems to be listening. This is a first step and we will not relax our pressure until all residents that lost services have a regular, reliable and accessible bus service restored.”
Liberal Democrats’ group leader, Cllr Henry Vann (De Parys) said the the campaign was still ongoing.
“There is still a lot of uncertainty around exactly where these services will go and we will keep up our campaigning until we get proper services restored.
“I am especially pleased that calls to work with schools and colleges have been listened to.
“Giving more young people access to reliable and affordable public transport will help families save money and could also reduce traffic congestion on our roads.”
Wider work
The mayor told the Bedford Independent that “everyone who has played a constructive part deserves credit.”
“So, while I understand why the Liberal Democrats want to highlight their campaigning, these improvements are the result of much wider work,” he said.
“Residents raised their concerns. Council officers have worked through the options. Operators have been involved in developing solutions. And the administration has had to identify the funding to make those solutions possible.
“Our job now is not to argue about who gets the credit. It is to get better buses back on the road and deliver the reliable services residents need.”
