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Bracknell Council confirmed it would axe four bus routes, with some passengers losing out on their only form of transport.
As vulnerable residents in Sandhurst, Crowthorne and Warfield prepared to lose access to four ‘lifeline’ routes, stranded passengers were pointed to charity minibuses instead.
At Bracknell’s annual budget meeting on Wednesday, February 25, the authority took the axe to four services with few riders.
Cllr Guy Gillbe (Easthampstead & Wildridings) acknowledged the impact that the cuts would have on people who relied on the 151/151A, the 299 and the 598.
In one week in November, only 305 trips were taken on the 151/151A bus, 139 trips on the 299 route and only 73 trips on the 598 ‘shoppers’ service in Crowthorne and Sandhurst. Each trip is costing the council between £11 and £17 per journey.
Mr Gillbe said he had consulted widely with interested parties and discussed many different possible route changes with bus operators, although none of them are currently seen to be practical.
He had attempted to save the routes by asking town and parish councils to enter into financial partnership providing their support to keep these bus routes going. All of them declined to put in any money.
The Warfield Park Community Association had started a petition to keep one of the services running, although the petition wasn’t received on time to make a difference.
People who rely on the services were directed towards voluntary services such as ‘Keep Mobile’ and Ark community transport which provide door-to-door transportation for vulnerable children and adults with physical or mental disabilities.
But, as one member of the Green Party pointed out at the meeting, there is a carbon cost to running empty buses.
The 151/151A will end at the end of the summer term, the 299 and the 598 will finish at the end of a six weeks notice period.
Meanwhile Mr Gillbe hit back at reports that Bracknell has missed out on the chance to renew and re-design its bus services for the 21st century after commentators speculated that those four cuts would rule out Bracknell from getting the new cash.
Up to a million pounds for new buses will shortly become available from the government to help Bracknell Forest renew bus services.
The ‘Local Authority Bus Grant’ would in theory provide £408,000 per year rising to £433,203 in 2029 to invest in assets like bus lanes, shelters, displayboards or onboard wifi and £616,812 per year to maintain a bus fare-cap of £3 per journey.
Reports came to the surface last week that cllr Guy Gillbe, Bracknell’s cabinet member for planning, transport and countryside, had been ‘astonished and taken aback’ at a bus forum last week to learn about the new bus money, and that his cuts would rule Bracknell out of getting the new money.
However it was revealed at the start of the meeting by Conservative leader Gareth Barnard that cllr Gillbe had been briefing group leaders the previous day with his side of the story.
Cllr Gillbe said: “The council was made aware of the grant in December with which comes a number of conditions.”
“One of which is that base bus funding not be reduced after the 26/27 financial year begins on April 1.
“A concern was raised at a recent meeting of bus operators that the budget before us would not meet those conditions.
“I conducted due diligence by asking officers to review and confirm.
“Senior officers reviewed the grant conditions and have confirmed that the budget before us is compliant.
“We have a partner in government that is ready to support us in preserving our future base bus funding.”
At the meeting where the cuts were pushed through, Cllr Gillbe also announced what he called an ‘exciting first step’.
He said the council would begin a ‘supported bus review’ when his current subsidised bus contracts expire at the end of 2028, although by that time, there will have been elections and another administration might well be in charge.
