THE cost of providing bus services in Swindon has soared by 70 per cent, Government figures have revealed.

According to the Department for Transport, the council handed out £655,000 in 2002/2003 to private bus firms.

During the previous year, 2001/2002, spending was substantially lower, at £384,000.

But while there are concerns nationally about the spiralling costs paid out to bus companies by councils from taxpayers' money, in Swindon the increase is being paid for by developers.

Swindon Council spokesman Gavin Cal-throp said: " The dramatic rise is directly attributable to the massive development going on in the borough, especially in the northern sector.

"As a responsible planning authority, we make sure that developers contribute money to be spent on providing public transport infrastructure such as bus routes.

"There is likely to be another big increase next year."

Swindon Council's lead member for Environment and Transport, Councillor Jemima Milton, said: "The vast majority of subsidised bus routes are rural ones that give people in outlying areas of the borough a vital link to the amenities of the town centre and facilities like the Great Western Hos-pital.

"The council receives some funding from central Government that is ringfenced to contribute to subsidising rural bus routes.

"All subsidised routes are constantly monitored for usage and viability to ensure that the council is getting best value for money."

Details of the soaring expenditure nationally comes amid ongoing concern over the system of bus service tendering in England.

Under current rules, private firms decide which routes to run and how frequent services should be.

But some important services are not profitable and companies only lay on buses because the council pays up something it is legally obliged to do in order to meet community needs.

MPs have warned costs to local authorities nationwide are spiralling, as bus firms demand more and more cash to run services that are not commercially viable.

And alarm has grown because bus firms can be in a position of having little or no competition leaving them able charge councils whatever they want.

Despite the fears, the Government has insisted regulations are tough enough to prevent unfair practices by bus operators.

Editor