Derbyshire bus service campaigners demand funding boost

Protesters held a series of demonstrations in towns across Derbyshire

Campaigners in Derbyshire are calling for a regular, reliable, affordable, zero-emission bus services in every village and town in the county.

Research by transport groups showed Derbyshire bus journeys more than halved between 2009/10 and 2021/22.

Members of Campaign for Better Buses went by bus from Chesterfield and held demonstrations in Matlock and Bakewell.

They called for "adequate funding to make public transport the most attractive option".

The government said money saved on scrapping HS2 North would be diverted to Derbyshire for transport.

It also highlighted that Derbyshire County Council received £47m from the government's Bus Service Improvement Plan fund last year.

Lisa Hopkinson said the falling quality of bus services was obvious to residents

But campaigners said that was less than half the £105m it had applied for.

Campaign for Better Buses, which is backed by National Pensioners Convention, bus campaigners, trade unions and climate groups, wants root and branch changes.

Protesters called for full public ownership of bus services and "up to date and consistent advertising of public transport including full information and travel maps at bus stops". 

Lisa Hopkinson, from the group, said: "I think anyone who takes the bus in Derbyshire, or pretty much anywhere in England, knows the quality of the buses and the service levels have gone down.

"Bus services have been cut by a third over the past 10 years but they are vital to so many communities" Adrian Rimington, from the Chesterfield branch of the National Pensioners Convention, said: "Our buses are in crisis, services have been slashed and buses are often cancelled or late.

"Recent cuts in government funding - which pays for socially necessary services - will make the crisis even worse."

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "Derbyshire will soon be receiving additional funding from the government's decision to redirect money from HS2, and its exact allocation will be confirmed shortly.

"This is on top of the already allocated £47 million for Derbyshire County Council to boost its bus services, which includes introducing £1.50 fares for young people from 1 November, so they get to school, see their friends and visit family for less."