The government has awarded £564,000 to explore bus reforms including the possibility of franchising to the new Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority.
The Sussex and Brighton Mayoral Combined County Authority, known as the Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority, said: “The Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority has secured £564,000 from the Department for Transport to explore how bus services across the region could be improved.
“The funding will support independent studies into the potential benefits of bus reform, including franchising, helping the strategic authority assess how future services could better meet the needs of passengers, communities and businesses.
“Drawing on experience from the Department for Transport and other strategic authorities, the work will explore opportunities to better connect people with jobs, education and essential services and ensure the bus network continues to meet the needs of public transport users across Sussex.
“The Bus Franchising Support Funding package includes £500,000 for the studies and £64,000 to recruit a dedicated bus reform officer to lead the work.”
Labour councillor Bella Sankey, chair of the board, said: “This is an exciting investment in the future of our buses across Sussex and Brighton.
“We know the cost of living is biting hard and that our buses must become more affordable and meet the needs of our communities in terms of frequency and route planning.
“This funding fires the starting gun on potential change, allowing us to gather evidence on how our bus network could work better for residents and businesses.”
Reform UK councillor Andy Woolley, joint vice-chair of the board, said: “We know investment in buses can bring big economic benefits.
“Over recent years, every £1 invested in buses in East Sussex has returned almost £4 to our economy and passenger numbers have bounced back from the covid era.
“It’s only the start though and we know that further smart planning of a bus network could help work, education and social life boom right across Sussex.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Jay Mercer, the other joint vice-chair of the board, said: “Any investment in the bus services in Sussex is worthwhile as it provides a vital network for our residents to be able to travel, at a reasonable cost, across the county.
“I look forward to seeing what the results of the study are and how they can be utilised to improve a vital transport network for our residents and communities, particularly those in the many rural areas of Sussex.”
The new authority has been established to provide strategic leadership across the area, working with local councils, partners, investors and government to deliver greater prosperity for the area.
The first mayoral election is due to take place in May 2028.
So, that’s it then.
The useless Council has decided to take over the running of the
brilliant bus service in Brighton & Hove, and ruin that as well,
just like everything else the council has ruined in the City.
What would you do?
It hasn’t decided anything yet!
We must see a joined up network with integrated ticketing, like London and Manchester.
Separate systems and tickets for different bus companies make travelling confusing and more importantly less appealing.
I frequently have to decide in advance which company/ticket type is going to benefit me most on any given day and planning in advance, rather than the ability to be more spontaneous.
Another waste of over half a million pounds of tax payers money. Yes the money coming from the government that we paid the tax too.
“Sussex and Brighton” – what happened to the “Hove” part of “Brighton and Hove City Council”?
Is the term “Hove” disappearing as part of Bella Sankey’s new role as mayor?
Please get the facts right!
Bella Sankey isn’t the Mayor. She’s the interim Chair for 8 months, then it’ll be the Leader of either of East Sussex (Reform) or West Sussex (Lib Dem), then the other Leader.
The new elected Mayor will then take over in May/June 2028.
Awards ??? allocates is the correct term, unless they won a competition ??? get a few medals as well maybe ???
Leave well alone.
If it aint broke, dont fix it
I tend to agree. Guess the question might be though, can it be made better, or are we happy with good enough? Suspect there’s a few different opinions on that.
the Buses might be OK in B&H but they may not be in the rest of Sussex.
Some areas might be served by one than one bus company but other areas may not have any services at all.
But whatever the results the bus companies will still be private businesses just working with a franchised system such as operate in London and Manchester
There’s nothing wrong with the bus network in Brighton. It’s the best in the country, by miles. The only possible benefit the council can gain is to get praise for an excellent bus network that was already excellent when they got their grubby mitts on it. The council should leave well alone, otherwise they’ll end up breaking what doesn’t need fixing.
Agree if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
I have always had problems using these buses.
I have always experienced buses running late, always being canceled, never getting to their right destination, and never turning up.
I experience this multiple times a day, every day.
I also always experience difficulties using these buses, because of my health and disabilities.
Both bus drivers and passengers have always told me that I am not allowed a seat, and I have also been spat in my face many times, by both bus drivers and passengers.
I highly doubt you’ve been spat at by a bus driver.