Bus service scrutiny as £1m added to budget

THE county council is set to discuss where investment is needed to improve the bus network in Lancashire.

Lancashire County Council’s new administration has pledged to make an extra £1 million available to support bus services, increasing the budget from £2m to £3m.

Key priorities are to restore lost links between communities, particularly in rural areas where people who do not drive or own a car rely most on public transport, to increase the frequency of services on routes where there is more demand, and to stabilise the network to support routes which might otherwise disappear.

County councillor Andrew Snowden, lead member for highways and transport, has opened a consultation for ●● County councillor Andrew Snowden councillors to consider draft proposals for improving services.

He said: “I’m keen to ensure passengers benefit from the improvements to bus services we promised as soon as possible, so I have already been working with officers on some draft proposals for how we could best meet the needs of communities with the new funding.

“However, I also want to ensure that county councillors have the opportunity to input into work on behalf of the communities they represent and raise any issues they are aware of which will help to make sure the proposals we eventually bring forward have a real impact and provide the best possible value for money.

“A good public transport network is vital to support our economy, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to access work and education.

“It also plays a vital role in helping people to carry out everyday tasks such as doing their shopping, visiting family and friends, and getting to health appointments.

“This extra funding will make a significant impact in supporting and supplementing the commercial network to link communities which might otherwise have no or very little public transport, and help to ensure transport connections across Lancashire are as effective as possible.”

Following consultation with councillors, proposals will be presented to the county council’s cabinet on Thursday, September 14.