Greeny News

The MPs also warned that fare rises were already putting transport beyond the reach of many vulnerable or disadvantaged people. They complained of "little or no proper consultation" when many of the vital bus routes were closed down or scaled back.

These cuts would have "very serious economic implications", she said, as people were unable to get jobs without access to transport, and could find it difficult to continue schooling or even visit local shops.

Recent research by FoE and the Sustrans campaigning group - looking at 16 transport plans in urban and rural areas - found that local authorities were spending only 70p per head, per year, a tiny fraction of their budgets, to help people make greener travel choices. Pilot programmes in three towns - Darlington, Peterborough and Worcester - that encouraged people out of their cars showed emissions were reduced and air quality improved as more journeys were made on foot, by bicycle and by bus.