MP urges Government to stop heavy cuts to local councils after new figures show that 1 in 5 bus services lost over the past 10 years across the North West

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has written to the Communities Secretary, James Brokenshire, urging him to reverse the cuts to local government which has led 1 in 5 bus services in the North West of England have being axed over the past decade.

In answer to a written Parliamentary question from Tim, the Department for Transport revealed that the number of bus services operating across the region has dropped from 4,241 in 2008, to 3,353 in 2018.

Local councils have experienced a 40% cut in central government funding since the start of the decade.

Tim said: "Public transport is a lifeline for so many in our rural areas.

"Local councils are aware of the devastating impact that non-existent bus services can have on people and are trying to find ways to help, but the simple fact is they've been cut to the bare bone by the Conservative Government over the past 10 years.

"Their decision to starve local councils of funds for bus services means that you've got more people struggling to travel to work or to their nearest town to spend money at the shops, and therefore the local economy suffers as a whole."