Bus consultation - closes on 27th October

Residents are being reminded to share their views on a number of bus services which are currently supported by Essex County Council.   

There are 46 bus services across the county currently funded by Essex taxpayers which are under review. These make up around 15% of the bus services in the county. The rest are delivered by commercial partners and not included in the consultation. 

The services included are provided by Essex County Council where there is no commercial service, but there is a need to help residents stay connected. 

The consultation aims to ensure that the future bus network supported by the council is ready to meet new levels of passenger demand and provides value for money. 

An effective bus service helps all communities thrive by:• supporting economic growth by getting people to work, training and school• supporting an improved Essex environment through increased air quality and reduced carbon emissions• allowing young people, older people and those with disabilities or without cars to travel• helping to support diverse and thriving communities• helping to combat loneliness and isolation

The services being reviewed operate Essex-wide. They are mostly in rural areas and often operate at less popular times for travel, such as in the evenings or on Sundays. 

Currently around £11 million of taxpayers’ money is spent on these services. It’s therefore important to keep them under review and ensure they remain a good investment.

The consultation will look specifically at options around:• continuing services as they are now• redesigning services to better reflect how they are used (for example the days of operation, routes, the number of journeys and or the timetable)• returning some services to commercial operation.

Councillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport, said: “With less than four weeks left of this important consultation, I would urge anyone who can share their views on the council run bus services in Essex to do so. These services can be a lifeline for many, and we want to make sure we hear from those who use and rely on them. 

“We want to ensure everyone feels well connected while maintaining the quality of the service. It’s right that Essex County Council scrutinises the cost of these services to ensure they’re delivering value for taxpayers, and the views of the residents that use them can help us understand how important they are to communities.  

“Together we can shape the future bus service network in Essex and ensure it remains a safer, greener and healthier way for everyone to travel.”

The consultation can be completed online by visiting https://consultations.essex.gov.uk/iptu/localbus2025. Responses can be submitted until Monday 27 October 2025. 

are being reminded to share their views on a number of bus services which are currently supported by Essex County Council.   

There are 46 bus services across the county currently funded by Essex taxpayers which are under review. These make up around 15% of the bus services in the county. The rest are delivered by commercial partners and not included in the consultation. 

The services included are provided by Essex County Council where there is no commercial service, but there is a need to help residents stay connected. 

The consultation aims to ensure that the future bus network supported by the council is ready to meet new levels of passenger demand and provides value for money. 

An effective bus service helps all communities thrive by:• supporting economic growth by getting people to work, training and school• supporting an improved Essex environment through increased air quality and reduced carbon emissions• allowing young people, older people and those with disabilities or without cars to travel• helping to support diverse and thriving communities• helping to combat loneliness and isolation

The services being reviewed operate Essex-wide. They are mostly in rural areas and often operate at less popular times for travel, such as in the evenings or on Sundays. 

Currently around £11 million of taxpayers’ money is spent on these services. It’s therefore important to keep them under review and ensure they remain a good investment.

The consultation will look specifically at options around:• continuing services as they are now• redesigning services to better reflect how they are used (for example the days of operation, routes, the number of journeys and or the timetable)• returning some services to commercial operation.

Councillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport, said: “With less than four weeks left of this important consultation, I would urge anyone who can share their views on the council run bus services in Essex to do so. These services can be a lifeline for many, and we want to make sure we hear from those who use and rely on them. 

“We want to ensure everyone feels well connected while maintaining the quality of the service. It’s right that Essex County Council scrutinises the cost of these services to ensure they’re delivering value for taxpayers, and the views of the residents that use them can help us understand how important they are to communities.  

“Together we can shape the future bus service network in Essex and ensure it remains a safer, greener and healthier way for everyone to travel.”

The consultation can be completed online by visiting https://consultations.essex.gov.uk/iptu/localbus2025. Responses can be submitted until Monday 27 October 2025.