Support for bus industry could be extended

Welsh Government could enter into a longer-term agreement with bus operators to provide support in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

A bus emergency scheme was set up by Welsh Government to respond to the impact of the pandemic on the industry, with the government now looking to extend the scheme until July 2022.

The bus emergency scheme phase two will be used “to address the loss of fare box revenue and the additional costs associated with responding to the Covid-19 pandemic” including the implementation of social distancing measures.

The report says: “Under the terms of the agreement, operators will be required to provide bus services that meet local needs under the direction of the lead authority for each region, working with and on behalf of its constituent local authorities.”

Local councils will be required to prioritise the routes that the funding should be applied to.

The priorities for funding include supporting students getting to and from school, increasing frequency of bus services when demand exceeds capacity, improving job accessibility and ensuring social inclusion.

The current phase of support ends in March and without another agreement bus companies could be without vital support to keep business going during the coronavirus pandemic.

Bus operators are required to continue routes they largely used before the coronavirus outbreak.