Surrey bus route cuts granted to help council save £2m

Several bus routes throughout Surrey have been cut in an effort by the council to save £2m.

Surrey County Council’s cabinet has approved plans to completely close an array of bus services in east and west Surrey, and decrease the number of services on others.

Beginning on August 29th, the bus changes will affect routes including the 451 Staines to Byfleet, the 459 Kingston to Woking and the 540 Woldingham to Redhill.

The council’s decision has been strongly opposed by the North West Surrey Bus Users Group, which claim these new cuts will greatly affect commuters who don’t drive or own a car.

Mark Worley, from the bus users group, previously told the BBC: “Usership of buses isn’t as high in Surrey as it is in many other counties because of high car ownership.

“But nevertheless there are still many people without cars, without access to cars, who need to make vital journeys to and from the shops and to and from work.”

After conducting two public consultations on the cuts in its local transport review, the council revealed it needed to save £2m by 2017/18.

Furthermore, additional changes are expected to take place elsewhere in Surrey over the next two years.