The Humble Petition of residents of Little Harrowden, Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas,
Sheweth
That the decision by Stagecoach bus company to eliminate most the bus services between Little Harrowden and Wellingborough due to cut backs in subsidy from Northamptonshire County Council has led to considerable hardship to the old, disabled, vulnerable and young in isolating the village from Wellingborough and necessitating a difficult and dangerous walk along a busy and partly unlit road.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House urges the Secretary of State for Transport to liaise with Northamptonshire County Council and the Borough Council of Wellingborough to find a resolution that will lead to the Number 24 bus service being re-established between Little Harrowden and Wellingborough.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.—[Presented by Mr Peter Bone, Official Report, 8 June 2011; Vol. 529, c. 246.]
[P000925]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport:
The Government continue to provide significant funds for local bus services, in Northamptonshire and elsewhere, through bus subsidy for operators and via the national concessionary travel entitlement, which was protected in the Budget. However, it is not the role of central Government to determine which non-commercial bus services should be supported by local transport authorities. These are decisions which must be made locally, in consultation with the public.
I recognise that local councils are making difficult decisions in the light of reductions in revenue support from central Government, but they have almost total discretion about which services to value when budgeting for the future. Certain councils, such as East Riding of Yorkshire Council, have taken the decision to protect bus services and to make efficiencies elsewhere instead.
In many areas, community transport can play a valuable role in preventing isolation among the young, elderly and disabled. I therefore strongly encourage local councils to work in partnership with operators and local communities to examine how more flexible services might be provided. To facilitate this, my Department recently announced a £10 million fund for community transport in rural areas. Northamptonshire County Council has received a £209,995 share of this fund, as well as six days of consultancy resource from the Community Transport Association.