As part of the Government's £30m package of funding, Surrey has been fortunate to be given the opportunity to receive £671,945 of additional funding for 2020/21 to support local bus services.
The additional funding is being provided as revenue support to help local authorities provide more services in their area. This can be used, for example, to replace lost services, extend evening or Sunday services, or introduce new bus services, all of which are vitally important to our residents.
The DfT requires Authorities to submit their proposals for this funding no later than 13th March, so the turnaround time is extremely tight. As part of the submission SCC is required to consult with Surrey MPs, residents, bus users, and bus operators on its proposals, the aim being to increase the bus mileage in Surrey giving residents more opportunities to travel, so increasing the overall patronage across the County.
I am therefore writing to ask for your support so we can fulfill the criteria set down by DfT and start looking at possible service enhancements.
Please could I ask you to contact Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways at SCC matt.furniss@surreycc.gov.uk , if you are aware of any bus routes that need enhancement in our area of Reigate and Banstead, and urgently pass this on through your networks.
SCC will need to finalise our list of bus service candidates by Wednesday this week, such is the very short timescale set by DfT.