OUR STATEMENT ON STAGECOACH’S WITHDRAWAL OF SERVICES

Stagecoach has today confirmed its intention to withdraw certain bus services. The Mayor along with other Mayoral Combined Authorities lobbied Government successfully to secure an extension to the Bus Recovery Grant earlier this month. The grant is supposed to ensure the current network of bus services can be sustained. Despite requesting this extra money for six months Stagecoach has decided to make service cuts. 

The Combined Authority has been placed in an unacceptable position, to now find ways of sustaining as many bus services as it can and prevent bus users across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough being left stranded. We will now explore all options urgently to avoid this happening after 31 October.   

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, said: 

“It is unacceptable that despite getting a six month bus grant Stagecoach are still planning to reduce these vulnerable rural routes.  The timing of this news couldn’t come at a worse time.  It is of utmost importance to the Combined Authority that our rural bus networks are protected. They are vital for so many of our residents across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, in addressing isolation, enabling inclusion and supporting access to key services. We are appalled that Stagecoach are pressing ahead with such severe changes to the network whilst continuing to accept the funding from the government that is designed to protect it. 

With this in mind, I have asked officers to prepare to take these threatened routes back out to the market. I have also asked that we urgently review and refresh the business case for franchising the bus system in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. 

We will work closely with Stagecoach and all our bus operators to ensure that we can continue to deliver the buses that our residents depend on.”