Welsh Government announces £7m fuel fund to protect bus services and halt fare rises

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Bus routes, school transport, and community services across Wales will receive a share of an emergency £7 million fund designed to cushion operators against soaring fuel costs and prevent fare increases.

The Welsh Government scheme, named the Bus Services Support Grant (BSSG) Plus, will allocate funding through local authorities, including Caerphilly County Borough Council, during the 2026/27 financial year.

Ministers said the money aims to stop transport providers cutting essential routes or passing higher pump prices on to passengers.

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Operators covered by the package include commercial bus networks, council-commissioned home-to-school transport, and community dial-a-ride providers.

The Welsh Government’s deputy minister for transport, Mark Hooper, highlighted the “significant pressures” fuel costs are placing on transport providers and said: “These services provide vital connections for communities, helping people to access education, employment, healthcare and other essential services.

“We have been working closely with local authorities and the transport sector to understand the pressures they are facing and the potential impact on services.

“In response, we have developed BSSG Plus, a temporary and targeted package of support designed to help address exceptional fuel-cost pressures and protect essential services.”

He added: “In the meantime, we continue to monitor fuel prices and work closely with the sector and local government.”

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