A HAMPSHIRE Councillor met with bus company directors to discuss how to ease the pressure of public sector cuts on services in the county.

Ahead of Hampshire County Council's budget setting meeting next month, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, Councillor Rob Humby met with Marc Reddy - Managing Director for First Hampshire, Dorset and Berkshire, Edward Hodgson – Managing Director, Stagecoach South and Andrew Wickham – Managing Director, Go South Coast.

Hampshire County Council has been looking at options for closing a £140 million shortfall in its budget by April 2019, due to the County Council’s revenue support grant from Government soon coming to an end, rising inflation, and significant numbers of elderly people, younger adults and children needing social care. Proposals will be finalised at the meeting of the full County Council on February 22.

Councillor Humby said “We’ve reached a watershed in how bus travel is supported. Bus travel in Hampshire continues to be a success, with the number of passengers increasing – a different story to the falling numbers we hear about in other parts of the country.

He added:“However, even though 87% of bus services in Hampshire run without public subsidy, the well-publicised pressure on the County Council’s revenue budget means we can no longer afford the level of subsidies we have provided to operators in the past. We know a reduction in services would raise concerns across the county, as residents told us in our recent ‘Serving Hampshire’ consultation, but we are in a difficult financial position."

“In these times of ongoing pressure on local authority budgets, I believe this is the way forward. Ensuring that a good public transport network continues to operate in Hampshire will support greater travel choices for everyone, and help address issues like congestion, accessibility and air quality. I’m keen to press for improvements, and welcome commitments from the bus companies that they will play their part in supporting financially sustainable bus travel. This will ensure that any funding the County Council is able to provide for bus subsidies can be targeted at the areas of greatest need.”