Responding to the announcement by the Department for Transport that emergency bus and tram funding will be extended and by the Department for Education on funding for home-to-school transport provision, Cllr David Renard, the Local Government Association’s transport spokesman, said:
“It is good further funding has been announced for bus services and light rail, which have a critical role to play in the national recovery from COVID-19 and beyond, through supporting local economies, tackling poor air quality and congestion and reaching the country’s net zero carbon targets by 2050.
“However, these need long-term funding to support future provision.
“The most effective way forward would be for the Government to give councils oversight of local bus services, so they can ensure effective targeting of any public funding.
“We are pleased funding has been announced to support home-to-school transport and it will be important for the Government to work closely with schools and councils to ensure that the costs of covering extra transport capacity are fully covered.”
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