Buses upgrade
From Echo:
'The significant investment, announced yesterday, is part of more than £1 billion funding to support buses across the UK.
Extra funding is being dished out to end the ‘bus postcode lottery, empower councils to take back control of services, and deliver the bus revolution’, as well as creating ‘Londonstyle’ services.
Daniel Cowan, leader of Southend Council, believes Southend Council can do ‘something significant’ with the funding and discussions on how it will be spent will now take place.
Delighted - Daniel Cowan, leader of Southend Council Delighted - Daniel Cowan, leader of Southend Council (Image: Southend Council)
He said: “This is fantastic news for Southend. We are getting over £2 million more funding under this Government than the last, demonstrating this Government’s commitment to improving bus services.
“We look forward to making ambitious plans with this increase. This funding is much more than we expected, which was a nice surprise to have.
“We need to work up options, but we believe we can do something significant.”
The Government add that investment has been designated to enhance popular routes, protect rural services and increase bus use for shopping, socialising and commuting. It is designed to prevent service reductions on at-risk routes and improve punctuality across England.
Shoebury resident and frequent bus user, Richard Delahoy, added: “The increased allocation of Government money to Southend Council to improve bus services is certainly welcome.
“Within the headline £2.5 million figure, most of it, £1.7m is for capital projects like bus lanes and infrastructure measures.
“I would like to see some of the money spent on repairs to the Travel Centre building, as well as more roadside real time information screens.
“Also, more raised kerbs to give level access to buses for buggy and wheelchair users.
“The rest of the money, £716,000, is for revenue support and this could be spent supporting more socially necessary services, such as the long sought after restoration of buses between Eastwood and Leigh.
“But such services need long-term funding, not just a one-year injection of cash.”
As part of this investment, the Government say that the funding has been allocated based on place need, levels of deprivation and population.'
'The significant investment, announced yesterday, is part of more than £1 billion funding to support buses across the UK.
Extra funding is being dished out to end the ‘bus postcode lottery, empower councils to take back control of services, and deliver the bus revolution’, as well as creating ‘Londonstyle’ services.
Daniel Cowan, leader of Southend Council, believes Southend Council can do ‘something significant’ with the funding and discussions on how it will be spent will now take place.
Delighted - Daniel Cowan, leader of Southend Council Delighted - Daniel Cowan, leader of Southend Council (Image: Southend Council)
He said: “This is fantastic news for Southend. We are getting over £2 million more funding under this Government than the last, demonstrating this Government’s commitment to improving bus services.
“We look forward to making ambitious plans with this increase. This funding is much more than we expected, which was a nice surprise to have.
“We need to work up options, but we believe we can do something significant.”
The Government add that investment has been designated to enhance popular routes, protect rural services and increase bus use for shopping, socialising and commuting. It is designed to prevent service reductions on at-risk routes and improve punctuality across England.
Shoebury resident and frequent bus user, Richard Delahoy, added: “The increased allocation of Government money to Southend Council to improve bus services is certainly welcome.
“Within the headline £2.5 million figure, most of it, £1.7m is for capital projects like bus lanes and infrastructure measures.
“I would like to see some of the money spent on repairs to the Travel Centre building, as well as more roadside real time information screens.
“Also, more raised kerbs to give level access to buses for buggy and wheelchair users.
“The rest of the money, £716,000, is for revenue support and this could be spent supporting more socially necessary services, such as the long sought after restoration of buses between Eastwood and Leigh.
“But such services need long-term funding, not just a one-year injection of cash.”
As part of this investment, the Government say that the funding has been allocated based on place need, levels of deprivation and population.'
