Bus travel around Conservative-run East Sussex will be cheaper this summer thanks to a funding boost from the County Council.
The money is helping to reduce bus fares across East Sussex in a bid to increase passenger numbers.
The measure is a key part of the council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), but with confirmation of central Government funding not expected until later this year, a decision was made to find alternative funding to introduce this to get people back on to buses.
Conservative councillor Claire Dowling, lead member for transport and environment, approved the use of funds from the Concessionary Fare Reimbursement budget, unspent due to the pre-Covid year on year reduction in concessionary pass use in the county.
“We know that implementing the fare reduction proposals set out in our BSIP are likely to have a very significant impact on passenger numbers if done so during the busier summer months. With confirmation of Government funding not expected until later this year, we did not want to miss this opportunity and I am delighted that we have been able to find the money to take action now.”
She added: “By encouraging an increase in bus passengers, operators will be in a much stronger position to continue running the services in East Sussex that our residents rely upon.”
We have worked with bus operators in East Sussex to introduce a range of discounts for passengers including a new £5 East Sussex single operator day ticket, family and group travel tickets and an off-peak unaccompanied young person £1 flat single fare ticket.
Lower fares are currently available from Brighton & Hove Buses, Metrobus, Compass Travel and Stagecoach. Other operators will be introducing these offers shortly.
More information about the fare reductions available can be found online at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/roads-transport/public/buses/service-changes/new-lower-fares-on-east-sussex-bus-services
Further improvements are expected to be introduced under East Sussex County Council’s BSIP when indicative Government funding of up to £41.4 million is confirmed.
