Reading Liberal Democrats call on Council to explore all options to keep Pink 22 bus

Reading Liberal Democrats are calling on Reading Borough Council to urgently consider all options to keep the Pink 22 bus route or an equivalent service, after Reading Buses announced the route between the town centre and Caversham Heights will be withdrawn from Monday 20 July.

The decision, announced with just six weeks' notice, has caused widespread concern among residents. A petition to save the service or revise the No. 23 and 24 bus routes to serve Caversham Heights attracted almost 2,000 signatures within days and was presented to the Council's Policy Committee on Monday evening by Aravind Chandrashekar. Concerned Caversham residents, of all ages, also raised questions at the meeting, asking for the Pink 22 service to be retained.  

Reading Liberal Democrats recognise that Reading Buses, as an arms-length commercial operator, has limited room to run loss-making routes indefinitely. But the Council already demonstrates that subsidy is possible where there is political will: for example, the Buzz 9 and 18 services are supported using funding from the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

Reading Liberal Democrats were encouraged to hear Councillor John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, say in his responses to residents at the Policy Committee that the Council is reviewing guidance from the Department for Transport on socially necessary bus services and seeking legal advice on how this may relate to the withdrawal of the Pink 22. Under the Bus Services Act, which became law in October 2025, councils have the power to identify services that they deem to be socially necessary, meaning strict requirements must be followed if operators wish to cancel or change them.

Cllr Anne Thompson, Liberal Democrat councillor for Tilehurst and Group Leader, said:

"Residents in Caversham Heights are rightly worried. For many people — particularly older residents, disabled residents, and those without a car — this isn't just an inconvenience, it's their connection to the rest of Reading: to shops, to medical appointments, to family and friends.

"The alternatives being offered don't stack up. The X40 doesn't cover the same streets,  and isn't even ticket-compatible with Reading Buses' own services. The 81 school bus only runs in term time. For people living on the streets that the X40 misses, this is a real loss of connection, not a minor change.

"We understand Reading Buses cannot be expected to run routes at a loss forever. But Reading Borough Council already chooses to subsidise services it considers a priority, like the Buzz 9 and 18. The question for the Council’s  Labour administration is simple: why wasn’t the 22 worth the same consideration?

"At the very least, residents deserve the kind of proper consultation that took place when this route was last under threat in 2018 — not six weeks' notice and a fait accompli. We're calling on the Council to pause this decision, properly assess the impact on Caversham Heights,  tell residents whether subsidy as a socially necessary bus service is on the table and publish the legal advice about it.”