Cumbria Council axes subsidy to 19 bus routes

A subsidy to 19 commercially unsustainable bus routes is to be withdrawn, Cumbria County Council says.

The council is making cutbacks of more than £33m, and the move will save £340,000.

However, the Conservative and Labour-controlled administration has set aside £1.5m to keep 83 services on the roads.

Only the least-used routes will be affected, some costing the taxpayer up to £15 per passenger for every journey, according to the council.

Of the 19 million journeys made by bus in Cumbria each year 1.8m are on services supported by the council.

Councillor Tim Knowles, cabinet member for passenger transport, said: "The county council remains committed to providing community transport and to support schemes like the Rural Wheels initiative and voluntary car driver schemes.

"These provide a very valuable and flexible alternative to existing bus services."