BUS SERVICES facing the axe in Wokingham in the coming months have been given a slight reprieve until later this year.

Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) has announced it has extended the financial support behind bus services in the borough.

Subsidised bus routes in the borough were due to expire at the end of March sparking concern from local residents.

The existing contracts first ended on June 30 last year but the council extended them with extra funding to allow a retender for the same service levels, at the same cost, over the winter. However, this was unsuccessful.

WBC has stepped in to extend its financial support, due to expire in March, up to August 31 to help services as they face reduced passenger numbers and rising costs.

WBC executive member for active travel, transport and highways Paul Fishwick said: “It's still an incredibly tough climate for bus operators, but we're determined to support them because it would be so much harder to revive any routes once they're gone.

"We know the pandemic has changed how many people work, with fewer people commuting than before, but we'd urge all residents to look at how they're travelling in their daily lives and ask themselves if they could take the bus more instead of driving.

"Looking ahead, we have to be serious about reducing as many car trips as we reasonably can - and a robust, comprehensive public transport network is critical to achieving this alongside safer, more convenient and more accessible walking and cycling routes.

"We're doing everything in our power to ensure the bus will always be an option for you and your children, but we can't do this alone and need you to support them if they are to have a future."

On Thursday, February 16, WBC decision-making executive agreed another extension to put these services out to tender for three more years from September, this time with scope for increased costs.

This covers subsidised routes serving Wokingham town and nearby areas south of the M4, the A327 corridor and Lower Earley and Reading via Woodley and the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Tenders for these services, currently run by Thames Valley Buses and Reading Buses, should go out next month with a view to awarding them in May.

Both the extended funding and new contracts will be covered, in part, by payments that developers building new homes in the borough must make towards services and infrastructure.

The council's leader Clive Jones has also urged transport secretary Mark Harper MP to extend central support for buses beyond March 31. Several Government grants and subsidies are set to expire then, which will add to operators’ difficulties - forcing councils to make tough decisions.