Crowborough bus users are having to pay more for journeys after a local reduced fares came to an end.
East Sussex County Council (ESCC) used Government funding to cap fares at £2 under its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) but this funding came to an end in February.
ESCC used the £41million funding to pay for a number of initiatives encouraging people to use buses across the county, including the capped fare reduction. However, the Government’s own national fare cap means, although the cost of journeys are going up, most will still cost £3 or less.
But the end of the East Sussex scheme has been met with disappointment. Bus Users UK chief executive Lydia Horbury said: “When supported fares are withdrawn, it is passengers who pay the price, particularly people on low incomes, young people and those without access to a car.”
She added that making buses less affordable “risks undermining efforts to grow use and support local communities”.
Joel Mitchell, managing director of Stagecoach South East, said the company recognised the challenges it presented for customers and local authorities. He said Stagecoach would continue to “explore opportunities to deliver the best possible value” while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the network.
East Sussex County Council said it would “continue to work closely with bus operators” to develop value for money fares, “where feasible”.
But there might be a silver lining on the horizon. Campaigners are hoping the council “may be able to help lower some bus fares again in the future, particularly for younger people” due to a new government bus funding for between 2026 and 2029. East Sussex will receive £29.4m in that period, according to the Department for Transport.
There were 16.3 million journeys on local buses in the county between April 2018 and March 2019, according to government data. In 2024-25, there were 17.5 million journeys.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Bus fares in East Sussex are set locally by the county council and bus operators, as they know the needs of passengers in their area best.”