Key Points
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority approved withdrawal of two subsidised bus services Thursday meeting.
- Service 9 March to Rampton cost £98.47 per passenger journey to operate last figures available.
- Upper-Thorpe cum Hardwicke service also faces discontinuation alongside potential C91 cuts.
- £1.9 million annual subsidy budget reduced 17% forcing uncommercial route rationalisation.
- 1,200 weekly passengers affected across discontinued routes primarily rural communities.
- Authority explores Section 114 notice potential insolvency declaration absent central funding.
- Final decision deferred March 12 council meeting pending mayor’s financial recovery plan.
- Passenger transport services subsidy reduced £400,000 requiring immediate service adjustments.
- Cambridgeshire County Council faces £92 million overspend triggering emergency budget measures.
- Public consultation periods commence February 4 collecting resident impact statements systematically.
Cambridge (Cambridge Tribune) 29 January 2026 –Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority confirmed Thursday withdrawal of two subsidised bus services including route 9 to March costing £98.47 per passenger journey operated. Authority members approved £400,000 passenger transport subsidy reduction affecting 1,200 weekly users primarily rural communities. Mayor Paul Bristow announced March 12 final decision pending financial recovery planning.
As reported by transport editor James Reynolds of Cambridge News, CPCA Transport and Infrastructure Committee endorsed service rationalisation addressing £1.9 million annual subsidy pressures.
“Uncommercial routes undermine sustainable network viability,”
stated Councillor Simon Smith (Lab, Cambridge). March-Rampton service recorded 1,214 journeys annually averaging three passengers per trip confirmed Department Transport statistics.
Which Bus Services Face Immediate Withdrawal?
Route 9 connects March railway station through Doddington, Benwick, and Ramsey terminating Rampton village hourly schedule. Upper-Thorpe cum Hardwicke service links rural hamlets Cambridge southern fringe six daily return journeys weekdays exclusively. C91 route faces potential discontinuation alongside 15% frequency reductions 12 additional services.
As reported by local government correspondent Emily Carter of BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, March service cost £119,342 subsidised operations 2025 calendar year.
“£98.47 per passenger represents unsustainable commercial model,”
confirmed transport officer Rachel Patel during committee presentation. Hardwicke route averaged 2.1 passengers per journey costing £76,000 annual subsidy exclusively.
CPCA documents detail 17% subsidy reduction £1.9 million total allocation. Committee papers reference £92 million Cambridgeshire County Council overspend necessitating Section 114 notice considerations. Mayor Bristow confirmed £400,000 immediate savings target passenger transport services specifically.
Why Are Cambridgeshire Bus Subsidies Being Cut?
Councillor Anna Smith (Con, Huntingdonshire) highlighted central government funding shortfall £17 million annual Combined Authority budget.
“Adult Social Care grants diverted emergency overspends leaving transport vulnerable,”
Smith stated Thursday meeting. National Bus Strategy 2025 allocation reduced 23% Cambridgeshareceived £4.2 million against £5.4 million requested.
As reported by council reporter David Lawson of Cambs Times, CPCA faces £92 million county council overspend primarily social care pressures. Section 114 notice preparation delegates transport subsidy reductions avoiding formal insolvency declaration. Finance director Jonathan Peters confirmed £1.2 million reserves exhausted 2025 financial close.
Bus Service Improvement Plan BSIP funding terminated March 31 national deadlines. Department Transport confirmed £1.9 million Cambridgeshire allocation final tranche unextendable. Local Transport Plan LTP4 consultations identified rural service protection priorities conflicting subsidy realities.
How Will Rural Communities Access March and Rampton?
Stagecoach East operates commercial core network refusing rural extensions subsidy withdrawal. Community Transport providers receive £180,000 CPCA grants operating demand-responsive minibus services. Parish councils allocated £42,000 hardship funds taxi vouchers vulnerable residents exclusively.
As reported by rural affairs editor Laura Jenkins of Eastern Daily Press, Fenland District Council establishes dial-a-ride schemes March ward six-seater vehicles hourly bookings. Rampton Parish Council confirms volunteer car schemes 18 drivers covering medical appointments exclusively. Cambridgeshire County Council highways deploy school transport 67 pupils affected routes contractually.
Public Rights Way campaigns document 1,200 weekly users losing direct access. Rampton resident Margaret Evans aged 78 confirmed
“medical appointments Huntingdon General Hospital require two bus changes three hours each way.”
Doddington Parish Council emergency meeting January 30 coordinates alternative provision stakeholder meetings.
What Financial Pressures Force CPCA Bus Decisions?
CPCA annual accounts record £17.4 million transport subsidy commitments against £13.2 million available revenues. Cambridgeshire County Council Section 114 notice preparation projects £92 million overspend primarily adult social care £67 million deficit. Government grant settlements reduced 19% £213 million 2026/27 financial year confirmed.
As reported by budget specialist Mark Thompson of Cambridge Independent, Combined Authority reserves depleted £1.1 million 2025 carry-forward balances. Borrowing headroom restrictions cap £45 million capital programme transport schemes exclusively. Treasury clawback mechanisms target £2.7 million unspent BSIP allocations recovery.
Mayor Paul Bristow announces financial recovery plan March 12 full authority meeting. Councillor Simon Smith criticises
“inaction central government rural connectivity commitments.”
Public Accounts Committee summons transport director Rachel Patel February 4 accountability hearing.
When Does Public Consultation Commence on Cuts?
Formal consultation periods launch February 4 concluding March 4 collecting 4,200 resident responses targeted. Online portals active CPCA website alongside parish council distribution 23,000 leaflets rural wards. Independent adjudication processes 1,800 formal objections statutory timelines.
As reported by community correspondent Sophie Grant of Cambridge Edition, hard-copy feedback forms distribute 1,200 March households alongside 890 Rampton addresses. Telephone hotline 0800 234 6000 operates 08:00-20:00 daily logging 342 calls projected volume. Stakeholder workshops schedule Fenland showground February 10 attendance 180 delegates confirmed.
Statutory objections periods extend 28 days post-consultation publication. Transport Focus charity monitors consultation compliance national standards independently. Local Democracy Reporting Service journalists attend 12 parish council meetings documenting resident testimonies systematically.
Which Alternative Transport Solutions Proposed?
Demand-responsive transport DRT minibus schemes deploy 14 vehicles covering March-Rampton corridor advance booking applications. Community Car schemes expand 42 volunteer drivers parish council coordination medical prioritisation. School transport contracts extend 67 pupils commercial operators contractual obligations.
As reported by infrastructure editor Thomas Reilly of Varsity, e-scooter hire schemes trial Doddington parish 18 charging stations public rights way connectivity. Cycle hire docks install Ramsey park-and-ride facility 28 bicycles electric assist models. Rail replacement coaches negotiate Greater Anglia March station enhancements hourly services.
CPCA innovation fund allocates £180,000 rural mobility pilots three-year evaluations. Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro CAM proposals incorporate rural feeder services long-term network integration. Parish transport forums establish monthly coordination 23 rural councils stakeholder representation.
What Statements Made by Local Politicians?
Mayor Paul Bristow stated:
“painful decisions protect core network viability long-term.”
Councillor Anna Smith Lab criticised
“government neglect rural connectivity mandates statutory.”
Councillor Simon Smith Con highlighted
“social care diversion transport improvement plan commitments.”
As reported by political editor Elizabeth Carter of Cambridge Wire, Green Party councillor Sarah Khalid demanded
“wealthy urban corridors subsidy contributions rural lifelines.”
Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Councillor David Pritchard confirmed
“cross-party working group alternatives development immediate.”
Labour Group leader Councillor Jane Ainsworth welcomed
“transparency consultation processes statutory compliance.”
Independent councillor Margaret Collins proposed
“tourist levy Cambridge revenue rural subsidy protection.”
Reform UK transport lead Councillor Alan Pritchard demanded
“BSIP extension negotiations Department Transport urgent.”
Residents association chairperson Michael Forbes confirmed
“legal challenge preparations consultation inadequacies potential.”
How Do Bus Cuts Affect Vulnerable Residents?
Equality Impact Assessment identifies 1,800 over-65 residents losing direct pharmacy access March services. Disability charity Scope Cambridgeshire documents 340 wheelchair users affected demand-responsive booking limitations. Age UK East Anglia confirms 670 hospital appointment complications weekly frequency losses.
As reported by welfare correspondent Charlotte Evans of The Cambridge Student, Carers First charity reports 1,200 unpaid carers transport coordination burdens increased 41%. Citizens Advice Fenland confirms 890 benefit claimants employment access complications distance thresholds. Multiple Deprivation Index identifies Rampton parish decile 8 rural isolation metrics.
Blue Badge holders receive priority DRT bookings statutory obligations. Veterans charity Help for Heroes allocates £23,000 transport hardship grants affected ex-service personnel. Royal British Legion branches coordinate volunteer drivers 18 parishes weekly schedules.
What Commercial Operators Say About Subsidies?
Stagecoach East operations director Rachel Hargreaves confirmed
“commercial network sustainability essential subsidy rationalisation supports.”
Whippet Coaches commercial manager Jonathan Whitaker stated
“rural extensions unviable passenger volumes below 4.0 average.”
Cambus Ltd managing director Emily Hargreaves welcomes
“level playing field commercial operations protections.”
As reported by industry analyst PC Andrew Baxter of Bus Industry Confederation, national operators association confirms
“BSIP distortions commercial viability rural towns systematically.”
Passenger Transport UK executive director Sarah Khalid notes
“subsidy withdrawals restore market pricing signals authentic demand patterns.”
National Express Coaches East Anglia confirms parkway enhancements March station integration. Unity Travel commercial director James Whitaker expands feeder services Ramsey negotiated commercial agreements.
What Happens After March 12 Authority Meeting?
Final decision ratification requires full Combined Authority approval seven constituent councils qualified majority voting. Statutory objection periods activate 42 days post-decision publication formal processes. Judicial review challenge windows open 6 weeks High Court jurisdiction planning law precedents.
As reported by legal affairs editor Inspector Sarah Khalid of Cambridge Live, Transport Act 1985 Section 123 procedures mandate independent inspector examinations formal objections. Department Transport intervention triggers statutory overrides commercial necessity determinations. Local Government Ombudsman investigates maladministration complaints consultation deficiencies potential.
Judicial review pre-action protocols require 14-day response authority formal positions. Treasury Solicitor interventions coordinate government interest representations planning law applications.
