Bus services at risk of being cut saved by grant

A number of bus services in an area of Kent that were at risk of being cancelled have been saved.

Kent County Council (KCC) has stepped in to protect some of the Stagecoach services in Ashford that had been expected to end in March.

The 2 and 2A from Ashford to Tenterden, the 10 from Folkestone to Ashford and the 14 from Ashford to Wye will continue for at least an extra 12 months.

Neil Baker, KCC's cabinet member for highways and transport, said the council was keen to step in to "avoid what is a very fragile bus network contracting even further".

Certain journeys on the G-Line from Godlinton Park to South Willesborough and some trips on the 666 from Eureka Park have also been saved.

KCC used grants awarded by the government to fund the contracts that will allow the services to continue.

The council explained that the cost of sustaining buses in the county continued to rise.

"With fewer people getting the bus, and rising costs since the pandemic, the council is warning of the financial pressures of sustaining Kent's network," KCC said.

Baker explained: "Bus companies can, and do, change and cut services for commercial reasons.

"While it is impossible for us to use funding to reverse these decisions, we consider whether we can intervene on a case-by-case basis."

Residents were told there would changes to their services from 2 March, including the renumbering of routes.

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