Following a review of Ashford services, Stagecoach were due to withdraw several operations in March, including:
- the 2 and 2A from Ashford to Tenterden
- the 10 from Folkestone to Ashford
- the 14 from Ashford to Wye
- certain journeys on the G-Line from Godinton Park to South Willesborough
- certain journeys on the 666 from Eureka Park.
KCC has been able to use bus grant funding awarded by Central Government to fund contracts that will allow these services to continue for at least the next twelve months.
Residents will notice some other changes to their services from March, including the renumbering of services, however, the funding provided through KCC will ensure that residents continue to have access to a bus service.
Recently, KCC was awarded £22 million of funding to protect services and deliver improvements during 2025/26. While this is welcome news, the cost of sustaining buses in Kent continues to grow. With fewer people getting the bus, and rising costs since the pandemic, the council is warning of the financial pressures of sustaining Kent’s network.
“While we have been able to support now, a long-term funding plan from Government is needed to secure a safe future for buses across Kent.”
Neil Baker, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “While the majority of bus services across Kent fall outside the remit of the County Council and are operated on a fully commercial basis, I am keen that we step in when appropriate to avoid what is a very fragile bus network contracting even further.
“Bus companies can, and do, change and cut services for commercial reasons. While it is impossible for us to use funding to reverse these decisions, we consider whether we can intervene on a case-by-case basis.
“I am pleased that we have been able to use Government Bus Grant funding to save these services in Ashford, but the cost of supporting services that previously didn’t require any additional funding is a concern and a pressure for KCC. While we have been able to support now, a long-term funding plan from Government is needed to secure a safe future for buses across Kent.”
The changes to these and other services in the area take place from Sunday 2 March. More information on the changes can be found on the Stagecoach website.
