Wisbech Tesco bus funding approved to keep Service 68 running

Funding has been approved for the Wisbech Tesco bus route 68 to temporarily continue its service. £15,000 from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority will extend the bus service for six months from March 31st until further review.

Initially, the funding for the service was provided through Section 106 developer’s money. Since then, the Combined Authority stepped in to provide temporary funding which draws to a close at the end of March 2022.

Mayor Dr Nik Johnson with Head of Transport, Rowland Potter travelled on the Wisbech 68 bus route last week (24^th February) to meet locals who regularly use the service. The excursion was an opportunity for the mayor to listen to people’s concerns and to understand the degree of necessity for such a service. This is to ensure that the Combined Authority continues to provide public transport services which are good value for money and successfully meet the needs of those who use them.

The service is operated by FACT community transport, a charity serving the Fenland, Huntingdonshire and East Cambridgeshire area. It runs on a circular route between Horsefair Bus Station and Tesco (Cromwell Road). There are also stops at Aces Eye Clinic, Wisbech Retail Park, College of West Anglia, Queen Mary Centre and Rosmini Centre.

Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson said:

It was good to meet the passengers and see the route and the community it serves for myself. It was clear there is a real community spirit in Wisbech, and they were passionate about saving the bus service.

I am glad that the Combined Authority will continue to support the service until a more sustainable option can be put in place. Cooperation within the community is needed for long-term survival of this service, and this involves encouraging more people to use the bus.