Essex County Council has now published the outcome of the Local Bus Consultation 2025, which reviewed 41 supported local bus services with contracts due to expire in July 2026. The consultation ran from 4 August to 27 October 2025 and invited residents, passengers, parish and town councils, operators, businesses and community groups to share their views on the future of these services.
The final decision takes into account public feedback, passenger usage trends, value‑for‑money assessments (including the £5 cost‑per‑passenger‑journey measure) and the need to maintain a financially sustainable and reliable supported bus network for Essex.
What Happens Next
Some services will continue unchanged.
Some will continue with revised timetables or redesigned routes to improve efficiency and long‑term sustainability.
A small number of services that no longer meet value‑for‑money thresholds and cannot be redesigned will move to a three-week on‑bus withdrawal consultation to gather final passenger comments.
Two Saturday services will return to commercial operation from 1 April 2026.
You can read the full decision, including all appendices and district summaries, on our consultation outcome page:
👉 Local Bus Consultation 2025 Consultation - Background and Final Outcome | Travel Essex
Thank you to everyone who took the time to take part in the consultation and share their experiences and views. Your feedback has played a vital role in shaping the next steps for Essex’s supported bus network.
