Kent to get £78.2m to 'restore trust in buses'

The government has announced hundreds of millions of pounds of investment in bus services.

Across the country local authorities are to receive £3bn over three years, with Kent County Council's share worth £78.2m.

Councils are being given the discretion to spend the money in whatever way they see fit.

Buses and road minister Simon Lightwood said "socially necessary" routes would also be introduced, with the potential impact on passengers to be considered when proposals to close loss-making services are proposed.

Mr Lightwood told BBC Radio Kent: "For years councils have been stuck with really short term funding that's made real change really difficult, and that ends.

"That money can be used by local leaders any way they see fit to improve local buses, make them more reliable or greener smoother journeys from zero emission buses.

"I've got a job of restoring trust in buses. Trust that they're going to turn up on time. Trust they're going to get you to where they need to get you to and trust that they're going to be affordable."

Campaigners have highlighted a loophole which has seen councils pick up the cost of preserving routes that operators have deemed not viable.

Operators are still able to collect fares from these subsidised routes, but Mr Lightwood said the Bus Services Act, which became law in October, would provide protection for unviable routes.

"We're also introducing something called socially necessary bus routes," he said.

"The local transport authority will be charged to identify areas of social need and and that puts extra protections.

"This proposes that the impact on passengers is really considered. That may mean mitigating any changes with something like community transport."

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