There are concerns that bus services in Scarborough could be affected when the government ends it COVID Bus recovery Grant Scheme next month.
The funding has helped bus operators continue to run services while passenger numbers have remained low.
The Bus Recovery Grant was introduced by the Department of Transport (DfT) last year, providing operators and local authorities with £255.5 million in funding support due to sharp declines in passenger numbers affecting revenues.
However, the Government are yet to clarify if this emergency measure is due to be extended beyond the end of March, leading to concerns that a significant number of routes will no longer remain viable due to continuing low passenger numbers if it does end.
Scarborough County Councillor Eric Broadbent has asked council transport chiefs to talk to local operators to ensure services are not cut.
Don MacKenzie is the executive member for transport at North Yorkshire County Council he says the council is aware of the funding issues and says the key is to make sure bus services are commercially viable.
A number of services in Scarborough were recently altered due to commercial pressures, there are now concerns that the loss of the COVID recovery grants at the end of March could put further financial pressures on bus operators.
North Yorkshire County Council's executive member for Transport - Don MacKenzie - says they are working on a £160m bus services improvement plan, but it does need more people to make use of buses in the first place.
Councillor MacKenzie says the rural nature of North Yorkshire does make operating commercial bus companies more challenging than in urban areas.
The Local Government Association, ADEPT, Urban Transport Group and Campaign for Better Transport are uniting to call on the Government to urgently extend the Bus Recovery Support Grant when it ends in March, saying that current passenger numbers were still way short of their pre pandemic levels.
Cllr David Renard, Transport spokesperson for the LGA, said:
“Councils across the country are working with local operators to continue to deliver lifeline bus services despite the pressures of the pandemic. Greater usage of public transport helps to alleviate congestion and reduce harmful emissions in our communities.
“Government funding has helped keep buses on the road, allowing operators to close the gap between the costs of providing local public transport and the reduced revenues from much lower numbers of passengers than normal. Passenger numbers have not returned to those seen before the pandemic and without continued support, it is clear that some routes will no longer be viable and will have to be reduced.
“This will have a devastating impact on people who rely on these services to get to work, visit family and access vital services, including doctors and affordable food shopping.
“Saving bus services is good value for money for the Government and the National Bus Strategy as well as for the Treasury as bringing services and passengers back is harder and more expensive. The Bus Recovery Support Grant must be urgently extended beyond the end of March.”
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