From CPRE*, the countryside charity has launched a campaign for a reliable bus service for every community.
EDITOR’S INSERT – since we published this in early February, CPRE have provided an update which we have added at the bottom of this page.
We’re calling on the government to make sure that, as we recover from the pandemic, our towns and villages have the bus services that local people need and deserve.
Currently, many rural communities are cut off and isolated with local bus services a rare sight. But we believe that we can have a better system, with high quality public transport helping our towns and villages to thrive again.
The coming years will be crucial for rural life across England. There’s never been a more important time to ensure that our politicians take the action we want to see.
CPRE, the countryside charity has today launched a campaign for a reliable bus service for every community.
We’re calling on the government to make sure that, as we recover from the pandemic, our towns and villages have the bus services that local people need and deserve.
Currently, many rural communities are cut off and isolated with local bus services a rare sight. But we believe that we can have a better system, with high quality public transport helping our towns and villages to thrive again.
It’s time to get our rural communities connected again. We’re launching this campaign after ground breaking research published for CPRE in 2020 found that more than half of the small rural towns across the south west and north east of England have completely inadequate public transport links. After decades of cuts and underinvestment, rural bus people living in towns and villages across England don’t have access to the reliable bus services that they need.
This means that older people who are unable to drive are being left lonely and isolated with no way to visit their friends and family. Younger people starting out in life in rural communities are being cut off from the training and education opportunities they need to get a good job and live up to their potential.
Lower-income families are being pushed into a vicious cycle of debt with no choice but to buy cars they can’t afford just so they can get around in their day-to-day lives. This is why we’re calling on the government for change.
What CPRE wants to see
We’re calling for a reliable bus service for every community.
Other countries like Switzerland and Germany have been able to achieve this: we know it’s possible. We just need the political will to make it a reality here.
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- Less traffic and air pollution
- Better access to local green spaces for all
- More spending on our local high streets at a time when they sorely need it
- Access to training and jobs for every younger person
- And a ticket out of loneliness and isolation for older people.
If you support our call for a reliable bus service for every community and want to take part in the campaign, sign our petition today? The more people get involved the more we can force politicians to pay attention and take action on this important issue.
Thanks for all your support. Together we can ensure that everyone has access to the bus services that they need and that our towns and villages can thrive once again.
*CPRE used to be the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England.
UPDATE FROM CPRE
When we sent an email to start this campaign in January, we knew it would resonate with so many people’s experiences. But we never expected this level of support.
We called for a bold response as we build back better from the pandemic – a reliable bus service for every community – and you responded. Four weeks later, over 30,000 people have signed our petition to the Secretary of State.
Together, you’ve helped send a clear signal to government that rural communities deserve better.
Thank you so much for being part of this. With so many signatures in just a few weeks, the campaign is off to a hugely impressive start and politicians are already starting to pay attention.
As we gear up for some crucial local elections this spring, will you help us ensure that our demands become impossible to ignore?
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