Workington MP Sue Hayman is concerned the Government's new Bus Services Bill could leave rural communities isolated.

The bill's proposals would give more power to local authorities over how bus services are franchised, but Mrs Hayman believes it does not do enough to support rural bus services.

She raised concerns in the House of Commons about the bill, which is currently in the House of Lords, and hopes to meet the relevant minister to suggest amendments.

Mrs Hayman said: "It actually doesn't do much to help rural areas and part of the reason I wanted to raise it was because I held a coffee morning in Silloth and this came up as a major issue, but it is anywhere I go.

"In any rural area people are concerned about the deteriorating bus services which have come about mainly because of local authority cuts.

"I was really disappointed that the Bill doesn't seem to recognise that rural bus services need support.

"I know that local authorities are going to face more cuts so unless something is done to support these services I can't see how it's not going to get worse.

"They've given these authorities more power but power is no good if you haven't got money to pay for anything."

Mrs Hayman said the argument that only a minority of people were using rural bus services did not give the whole picture as users tended to be elderly, have a low income or disabilities so were dependent on them.

"You end up with people being isolated and that has its own health implications," she added.

"It's a really important part of our communities to provide proper bus transport so the first thing I'm going to do is follow up my question to the minister with a letter and request for a meeting because I did feel his response was sympathetic.

"I want to discuss amendments to the bill that could improve things."

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