Residents are being urged to share their views on the future of 162 local bus services across Essex. A new consultation will explore how to make the bus network fit for the future.
Residents can share their views online until Thursday 5 October. Physical copies of the consultation are available by contacting the Passenger Transport team via email or calling 0345 743 0430.
A small number of bus services in Essex are subsidised by us as commercial bus operators will not run them. The consultation is about these non-commercial services, which generally run in rural areas and at less busy times.
Since the pandemic, the amount of people using buses has declined. We need to ensure future routes are viable financially and are meeting the new demand. It will also look at how to ensure it provides value for money for taxpayers.
As part of the consultation, 162 services across three groups are being consulted on:
- the vast majority where no change is proposed until at least 2028
- a group which will be supported until at least 2026, but where passenger numbers need to increase
- a low use group which are not currently meeting the needs of communities
Find out more and take part in the consultation.