ESSEX County Council has said it welcomes "constructive debate" following calls for it to step in to limit the rise on bus fares.

It comes after the government announced a rise in the bus cap due to increase to £3 from £2 in January 2026.

However, Brentwood councillor David Kendall has called on the county council to subsidise bus fares to keep fares capped at £2.

That comes after a decision by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to subsidise fares in that are until the end of March 2025 to hold the maximum price for a single journey at £2.

Councillor Kendall that the £17.8 million funding Essex County Council has received from the Government to improve services could be used to keep fares lower.

He said: "Whilst many people in our borough are fortunate to own their own transport there are others who totally rely on buses to get around for work and leisure and particularly things like hospital appointments.

"Bus routes are the backbone of our economic activity in communities across our country and I really do think if the government is serious about growth then it should invest in services that will boost struggling town centres and high streets.

"This motion calls on the county council to not raise the cap on January 1, 2025.

"Whilst I know that's only a few weeks away even now the county could step in like Cambridge has done.

"Cambridge are subsidising the increase to keep it at £2 for their bus users until the end of March 2025.

"The government has recently given the county council its funding for bus travel so some of that money could certainly be used in that way."

Local bus operator, First Bus Essex, has announced that fares are changing from January 1 2025, in response to the UK Government fare cap increase from £2 to £3 For those travelling with First Essex, this means that the maximum single fare will be £3 however it says 36 per cent of fares will cost less than £3.

Councillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport at Essex County Council, said: "We recognise the motion passed by Brentwood Borough Council and welcome constructive debate on the matter."