Bulk of county’s bus miles subsidised

Wiltshire Council financially supports more than 40% of the bus mileage in Wiltshire, which has been the highest-subsidised county in the West of England for more than a decade.

Last year, neighbouring Gloucestershire — itself a rural county — had more than 20% of its bus services subsidised.

Cllr Tamara Reay, Cabinet Member for Transport and Assets at Wiltshire Council, said it was ‘absolutely’ worth the money.

Andrew Sherrington, manager of bus operator Salisbury Reds, said the authority has been making an effort to get buses to rural areas in the county.