Axed bus routes in Bedford restored - but there's still more work to be done

The cuts, which came into force from May 1, included the discontinuation of routes 7, 10, and 53, along with significant changes to other routes. The changes also led to long walks to bus stops.

But after intense campaigning and petitions presented to the council, grant funding has been reallocated for services in Hillgrounds Road; Saxon Centre; South Wing Hospital; Bedford Bus Station; North Wing

Hospital; Putnoe Lane; Woodlands Park; Bedford Train Station; Abbeyfields.

There will be a minimum hourly frequency, with buses running from 7.30am to 7.30pm Monday to Saturday.

The council is also working with schools and colleges, including Bedford College, to explore a shift from private transport contracts to mainstream public bus services.

Members of the council’s Lib Dem group welcomed the news after campaigning against the cuts with ‘Save Putnoe Buses’ and ‘Stop the Bus Cuts’ petitions.

Cllr Michael Headley (Putnoe) said: “I continue to receive emails every week from residents in my ward who have been left stranded by the cuts. In all my time in the council I have never known an issue cause so much concern as the recent bus service cuts.

“The council finally seems to be listening. This is a first step and we will not relax our pressure until all residents that lost services have a regular, reliable and accessible bus service restored.”

Cllr Henry Vann (Lib Dem group leader) added: “After months of delay, the council is finally unlocking funding that should have been supporting local bus services long ago. This is a step in the right direction, but residents deserve a clear and joined-up plan for buses across Bedford borough. There is still a lot of uncertainty around exactly where these services will go and we will keep up our campaigning until we get proper services restored.”

Mayor Tom Wootton said: “We know how important these buses are. People rely on them to get to work, education attend hospital appointments, do their shopping and see friends and family.

“Residents were right to raise their concerns. And councillors from across the council were right to make sure those concerns were heard.”

But he added: "Finding that funding has required difficult choices. The money had already been allocated to other bus-related work, so developing these proposals has meant reviewing priorities and working with operators to establish what can realistically be delivered.

“There is still work to do. Residents will rightly judge all of us not by who claims the credit, but by whether a reliable bus turns up when they need it.

“So, while I understand why the Liberal Democrats want to highlight their campaigning, these improvements are the result of much wider work. Residents raised their concerns. Council officers have worked through the options. Operators have been involved in developing solutions. And the administration has had to identify the funding to make those solutions possible.

“Our job now is not to argue about who gets the credit. It is to get better buses back on the road and deliver the reliable services residents need.”