Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden, has welcomed progress on the East Sussex County Council’s plans for cheaper fares and more bus services across the area.
After receiving £41.4 million Government funding, East Sussex County Council is pushing ahead with its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). From 1st April, bus users will benefit from further reductions to bus fares including the current £5 single operator East Sussex day ticket becoming a multi-operator ticket which can be used on all bus services in the county, alongside additional age-related fare reductions.
In the coming months the county council will also be launching a new bookable on-demand transport service which will operate primarily in more rural areas. The service will be able to be booked via an app or by phone and more details will be released shortly.
Further information can be found here.
The fare reductions coming into effect from April 1 include:
- A new £5 all day ticket which can be used on most bus operators across East Sussex
- A reduction from £17.50 to £15 for the weekly Freedom Pass for under 19s
- An extension of the current offers of a single fare for under 19s after 6pm on school days and anytime on non-school days and up to four under 19s being able to travel for free with one adult fare paying or concessionary pass passenger
In addition to these changes, the Government’s £2 single fare scheme is also being extended to the end of June 2023.
Nusrat Ghani said: “Bus services are a vital mean of transport for many Wealden residents and I am pleased that this much-needed Government support will give bus services across Wealden and East Sussex a boost and deliver better, more reliable and affordable services across the region, which will help local residents and especially those in rural areas access the bus network.”