Calderdale councillor offers hope over bus funding

West Yorkshire Combined Authority – made up of the five Councils in the region, has recently written to Government to ask for more permanent funding for bus companies that have seen a massive downturn in income due to lockdown.

Although there have been one off funding announcements for bus services, there had been fears that if more permanent funding is not found, some services could disappear.

At a meeting of the Authority on Thursday morning, Leeds Councillor Kim Groves said a bus recovery partnership had been set up. But she added: “We haven’t had any confirmation from the Government in terms of funding, which is causing pressure on budgets going forward.”

However, a Conservative Councillor who sites on the Authority told members that he had recently received a letter from the Government on the issue that seemed positive.

Coun Steven Leigh, Leader of Conservative Group on Calderdale Council, said he had recently received a letter from the Government that seemed positive.

He said: “The reply we’ve got gives me no reason for pessimism. We’re not expecting it to be something horrible when we get official notification from the Government.”