Bus services to the Devil’s Dyke and Ditchling Beacon have been given a one-year reprieve after they were threatened by subsidy cuts when the council set its budget last month.
The stay of execution comes after the government gave the council permission to use funding intended for the council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
Funds allocated to the plan – drawn up by councils up and down the country – are generally required to be spent on improving journey times, reliability, passenger growth and customer satisfaction.
But the Department for Transport said that the council could use its government grant to help revive the routes as bus services continue to recover from the coronavirus pandemic restrictions.
Brighton and Hove Buses, which runs the council-subsidised routes, said that the fare for both services – the 77 to the Devil’s Dyke and the 79 to Ditchling Beacon – remained just £2 each way.
The bus company also runs the 78 to Stanmer although this route was unaffected by the cuts agreed at the annual “budget council” meeting.
The 79 to Ditchling Beacon was the subject of a petition to Brighton and Hove City Council.
The petition was started by Lin MacCallum Stewart who presented it to the council’s Transport and Sustainability Committee at Hove Town Hall today (Tuesday 26 March).
The 76-year-old retired business analyst said that the “Breeze up to the Downs” services took her to her “happy place” – and her petition was signed by more than 1,000 people.
She was delighted when Labour councillor Trevor Muten told her that the council had found a way to keep funding the services.
Ms MacCallum Stewart said: “In the summer, plenty of people who are disabled, disadvantaged and don’t have cars use it (the 79).
“But when it is raining and there is thick fog, there is no one on that bus which is why it needs the subsidy.
“When there’s not nice weather, there’s very few people and occasionally I’m on the bus by myself.”
Ms MacCallum Stewart asked whether passenger numbers could be measured against the weather.
And she said that she would write to the National Trust to ask the charity to revive its share of the subsidy which it provided until the covid pandemic.
Councillor Muten, who chairs the Transport and Sustainability Committee, said that the council sought alternative finance because its own general fund was “too squeezed”.
He said: “By putting it through the Bus Service Improvement Plan, we can find some funds to promote this service and encourage people to use it.
“I checked with Brighton and Hove Buses on the 78 and 79. They do allow bicycles to go on those routes and I don’t think many cyclists are aware of that.”
Bikes are not permitted on the 77. But pensioners can travel free on all three Breeze up to the Downs routes from 9am to 4pm on weekdays – and any time at weekends and on bank holidays.
Councillor Muten said: “This is great news and I’m thankful we’ve been able to work with the Department for Transport to use money from the Bus Service Improvement Plan to run and promote these services for another 12 months.
“I’d also like to thank all those who’ve contacted me about these services in recent weeks. We’ve listened carefully to what residents have to say and worked hard to protect council services while finding another way to fund Breeze up to the Downs buses.
“This is a lifeline. We have one year more of funding these services and they can only continue beyond that if they’re commercially viable. We will be monitoring the passenger numbers.
“May I humbly and respectfully ask all who signed a petition to save these services to take the bus to the top of the Downs and help make them economically viable and sustainable.”
For timetable information, click here.
This is fantastic news! One of our favourite weekend activities is to get the bus up to Ditchling Beacon and walk over the Downs to Lewes, so it’s great to hear we’ll be able to continue doing this. There are some beautiful views and it’s a great feeling to be high up in the fresh air enjoying nature. With an ice-cream van at the Beacon and plenty of great pubs in Lewes, there’s a treat to be had at each end of the walk too!
Obvious answer to the days that it is raining or windy is to use smaller buses! Less costs involved means less losses!
That IS good news.
Must make a point of using one of these buses this weekend, for my Easter walks.
Brilliant news. I’m not Brighton-based but always enjoy a trip on the 77. Never knew the 79 existed through so must check it out this summer!
Last chance saloon; let’s hope the numbers do indeed reflect viable usage over the next year. Even if it requires some clever seasonal or weather-dependant model.
Credit must be given to Lin MacCallam Stuart who took it upon herself to organise the petition and plead in person for these services to be reprieved.
We must now get on board and use them.
I am indeed delighted by this outcome and thank everyone who signed my petition. I hope that you also will check out the timetable and use the bus to find your happy place at the top of the Downs.
My thanks also go to Brighton and Hove Council Transport and Sustainability Committee for taking such a creative approach to the problem of funding and for promoting the 79 and 77 services.
We must remember, however, that this funding is only for one year and so we need to use this bus or we really will lose it. Thanks again.
An excellent example of taking an issue, and actively working a solution. Something we could all learn to do more of. Well done for this positive outcome.
Use it or lose it folks!