Bristol council-subsidised buses threatened by cuts
- Published
Companies are being invited to bid to run night buses, park and rides and off-peak services
Bus services subsidised by Bristol city council are under threat due to "unexpected cost rises", the authority has announced.
Tenders from a variety of bus operators came in at 拢1.2m more than the hung council had budgeted for.
The council subsidises 81 services - including off-peak, local "shopper" and park-and-ride routes - and two ferry services, now also under review.
The frequency of some are likely to be reduced and others could go entirely.
More than 50% of bus services supported by the authority are currently run by First.
The operator also controls 95% of non-subsidised services in the city.
The Liberal Democrat group said the council was currently spending just over 拢5m on transport subsidies and had already planned to cut its support by 拢1m over the next two years.
It said the reasons for the higher-than-expected tenders included fuel price rises, a 20% cut in bus service operators' grants and reductions in the government's concessionary travel reimbursement factor since contracts were last let in 2006.
New executive member for transport Tim Kent said: "We are looking urgently at a range of options and will do all we can to protect services and the communities who depend on them across the city."
A decision will be made by the council's Cabinet on 9 June.
- Published2 November 2010