I share the concern of many of my constituents at the proposed changes to local bus services announced suddenly by Stagecoach earlier this week. I should say that prior to the public announcement I had received no contact or advance warning from either Stagecoach or Mayor Nik Johnson on this issue.

However, I am in the process of arranging a meeting with the Managing Director of Stagecoach East to discuss these proposals and to convey the concerns of my constituents.

Delivering a high-quality bus network for the County is one of the cornerstones of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Devolution Deal, and Mayor Nik Johnson has been granted significant powers and funding by Government to deliver this. Given the Mayor’s direct responsibility for this devolved issue I have also written to him to urgently seek answers.

I believe that everyone deserves to have access to affordable and reliable bus services. The Government also supports this position and has made better buses a central focus, launching a new National Bus Strategy. Backed by £3 billion, this strategy will deliver better, more reliable bus services for passengers, strengthening communities and sustaining town centres across the country.

As part of this, at the 2021 Autumn Budget, the Chancellor committed £1.2 billion for bus transformation deals to deliver London-style services, fares and infrastructure improvements. The Budget also confirmed a further £355 million of new funding for zero emission buses and related infrastructure in parts of the country, including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Further, I know that this strategy encourages operators and local authorities such as the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to enter into statutory ‘enhanced partnerships’ or franchising agreements.

Given that franchising, which would enable more direct control of local bus services, was initiated in Cambridgeshire by Mayor Nik Johnson’s predecessor I am also seeking to understand from the Mayor what has happened to progress on this in the 16 months since his election. I have also asked what his plans are to ensure that the funding and powers he has been granted by Government are used to better protect the bus services that so many local people rely on so that we do not find ourselves in this position again.