A few weeks ago, a well-oiled campaign from residents of Brixham raised awareness about the forthcoming reduction of two local bus routes. The cancellation of which, would have left residents stranded and Brixham town centre and its local services inaccessible.
As a result of their campaign, I have taken up the challenge and have been working with Torbay Authority and local bus companies to see what steps we can take to ensure that Brixham’s transport connectivity is not reduced but enhanced.
Last week I spoke to Baroness Vere (the Bus Minister) about Brixham and Dartmouth to explore what further funding pots will be available to support our rural transport networks. I am eagerly awaiting the publication of the National Bus Strategy Review which will offer new funding and opportunities to safeguard these important services.
In the meantime, I am delighted to report that the number 15 & 16 bus routes in Brixham have been extended for a further 7 months to March 2021. This gives us some time to find a solution to maintain these routes.
You can see Anthony raising his concern in Parliament about local bus routes here