Bus routes revamp restores village link
MAJOR improvements to buses are just around the corner as Lancashire County Council has awarded contracts for new services due to start in December, with more due to begin in February.
The council’s new administration says it has agreed to make an extra £1m 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 don’t drive or own a car rely most on public transport, increase the frequency of services on routes where there is more demand, and stabilise the network to support routes which might otherwise disappear.
Key improvements to services due to start from Monday, December 11 include:
Service 337: Chorley – Eccleston – Croston – Burscough – Ormskirk
Service 347: Chorley – Eccleston – Croston – Rufford – Southport
The route and timetable of Service 347 will be revised and Service 337 introduced to restore rural village links and improve frequencies across Chorley and West Lancashire to Southport and Ormskirk.
A number of benefits include an improved service for Croston and Eccleston, restoring a direct link to Chorley, and improved frequency between Mawdesley, Croston, Eccleston and Chorley.
Service 337 will additionally serve Burscough Industrial Estate, providing public transport access to this employment area.
Rotala Peston Bus will operate these services on the county’s behalf.
Ormskirk – Western Parishes – Southport
LCC is continuing to work with bus operators to develop a sustainable option to restore a daytime service link between Ormskirk, Haskayne, Halsall, Shirdley Hill & Southport.
County Councillor Keith Iddon, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “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.
“All county councillors have been involved in shaping these improvements by offering their local knowledge about where people will most benefit by being able to use public transport where there’s currently no service at all, or where having more frequent services will make using the bus a much more convenient option than it is at present.
“We’ve worked hard to make sure these proposals make the most impact with the resources available and have already had some really positive feedback from people who have told us that these improved services will make a real difference to them.
“A number of improvements to services will start in December but we’re also continuing discussions with bus operators in some areas of the county where we think the best option is to enhance an existing commercial service to better serve communities.”
You can find full details of the new services by searching ‘bus improvements’ at www.lancashire.gov.uk