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Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Bus firm welcomes government support
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By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today PLANS to support bus services with £150 million of funding has been welcomed by Reading Buses.
Last week, the Government announced it would continue to support bus and light rail operators across England as the country emerges from the pandemic. Passenger numbers are still to recover to normal levels, and it is hoped that this new support will be the final funding support needed. The aim is to help local authorities to work closely with bus companies to enhance routes and services. Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “As we look ahead and continue our work to overhaul services and build back better from the pandemic, this funding will also help authorities and operators work together to provide even better services for people right across the country.” The Government is investing over £3 billion into bus services by 2025, including £1.2 billion to improve fares, services and infrastructure, and a further £525 million for zero emission buses. Reading Buses’ chief executive officer Robert Williams said: “We welcome the extension of the Bus Recovery Grant as the original recovery timeline was heavily disrupted by Omicron. “With the government having spent so much money keeping services running during the pandemic, it would have been an absolute waste to force services to be reduced or withdrawn before a recovery had been allowed to take place.” He added: “We continue to welcome more and more customers back onto our frequent, excellent value and low carbon services, and whilst we face significant cost pressures from the increases to National Insurance and fuel prices, the recovery funding will help.”
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‘SHED CENTRE OPENS DOORS Vulnerable EXCLUSIVE
can access help, clothes, homeware and more
By DANIEL BLACKHAM news@rdg.today
A BERKSHIRE charity has opened its second support centre to meet with increased demand.
The Cowshed’s new centre, based in Whitley enables people to access quality clothes and other essentials for free to anyone in need. The charity receives between 75 to 100 referrals a week from people in difficult
situations including those fleeing domestic abuse, experiencing emergency rehousing, health issues resulting in poverty, the homeless, emergency custody situations and poor housing conditions. Since being founded in 2018, the charity has been based at its HQ in Hurst but due to increased demand for their services, and a rise in donations, a second centre was needed. n Continued on page 11
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