Operators of nine bus routes have secured £3.5m from Hampshire County Council.

The funding will be used to subsidise services used by people in Winchester, Alresford, Alton, Liphook and Petersfield for the next four years.

In the Winchester area it will help with services from the city to East Stratton, South Wonston, North Baddesley, Owslebury, and Petersfield.

County council executive lead member for universal services, Cllr Nick Adams-King, said: “I’m pleased to allocate funding to support the commercial bus operators to keep these nine services running and help communities to stay connected.

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“Nationally, and here in Hampshire, bus passenger numbers are still well below the levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic. This is making it more challenging for the operators to deliver viable services, especially when coupled with increased operating costs and driver shortages. As a result, despite the funding, some of the services may see adjustments to frequency and routes.”

He added: “However, with the Government confirming it is extending the £2 bus fare cap to the end of October 2023, rising to just £2.50 until November 2024, I’d encourage even more residents to try leaving the car at home and take the bus for some or all of their local journeys.”

The funding support is part of the county council’s drive to maintain bus services where they are most needed and where the income from fares does not cover the bus companies’ costs to operate the service.

The funding will support selected services operated by Stagecoach, Cresta and AMK from August 1.

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Service 240 Ropley to Alresford currently operates on a Monday and Thursday and offers four off peak roundtrips per day. The new service will operate the same route and frequency with no changes;

Service 250 Liphook Village Circular currently operates on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday and offers three off peak roundtrips per day. The new service will operate the same route and frequency with no changes;

Service 38 Petersfield to Alton currently operates on Monday to Friday and offers five return journeys per day. The new service will operate the same route and frequency with no changes;

Service 94 Buriton to Petersfield currently operates on a Monday to Friday and offers seven off-peak roundtrips per day. The new service will operate the same route and frequency with no changes;

Service 46 Winchester to North Baddesley currently operates on Monday to Friday and offers two off peak return journeys per day.  The new service will operate the same route and frequency with no changes;

Service 63 Winchester to Owslebury currently operates on a Monday and Thursday and offers two roundtrips per day with the addition of a later return journey in afternoon. It is proposed confirmed that the new service will operate the same route and frequency with no changes;

Service 67 Winchester to Petersfield currently operates on a Monday to Saturday and offers seven roundtrips per day including peak, off peak and a Home to School journey, as well as four journeys on a Saturday. The new service will operate the same timetable but with the route on the last weekday peak journey (leaving Winchester at 17:50 hours) adjusted to end at West Meon Hut.  Also, from 1 August, the first journey on a Saturday will depart West Meon at 07:57 hours and the final Saturday journey from Winchester will depart at 17:57;

Service C41 New Alresford to Basingstoke currently operates on a Wednesday and Friday and offers one off peak roundtrip per day with the addition of a later return journey by request only. The new service will continue to offer one off peak roundtrip per day but the timings of these journeys will change;

Service 95 Winchester to East Stratton and Wonston currently operates on a Monday and Thursday and offers two off peak roundtrips per day. The new service will offer one off peak roundtrip per day but the timings and the days of the week the services operate will change. These changes are happening because contractually Service C41 and Service 95 will now be operated under the same agreement.  This helps us make the best use of drivers and vehicles.


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