South Downs buses given one-year lifeline

Bus services from Brighton to two beauty spots will continue for another year after funding to operate them was secured.

The 77 to Devil’s Dyke was threated with a reduced service while the 79 to Ditchling Beacon could have been axed altogether under plans which emerged last month.

But the government has gave permission for Brighton & Hove City Council to access funds from an alternative funding pot to support the services.

Councillor Trevor Muten said this had provided a “lifeline” because the council’s finances were “too squeezed”.

Mr Muten said: “We have one year more of funding these services and they can only continue beyond that if they’re commercially viable.

"We will be monitoring the passenger numbers."

The council allocated cash from its Bus Service Improvement Plan, which is normally spent on improving journey times, reliability, passenger growth and customer satisfaction.

Campaigner Lin MacCallum Stewart presented a petition to save the services to the council’s transport and sustainability committee.

She said she was “delighted” with the result, the BBC’s Local Democracy Reporting Service reported.

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