In a reversal of fortunes – and bucking the national trend – new bus routes in Lancashire from Monday (11 December) sees transport restored to a number of villages, along with more frequent services on other routes.
It comes after Lancashire County Council’s new Conservative-run administration agreed to make an extra £1m available to support tendered bus services, increasing the budget to £3m.
This is despite LCC approving further budget cuts of £7m as part of its bid to save £442m by 2021. Savings of £60m are required in 2018/19.
Within the improvements are changes to buses serving areas of Preston, Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire, restoring links to rural villages, and increase the number of buses.
Significant improvements include:
• A network of Fylde Villager services (operated by Rotala-owned Preston Bus) restoring rural village links and increasing the number of buses on routes between Preston, Lytham and Blackpool.
• A new network of Pendleside Link services (operated by Boomerang Travel) to restore rural village links and increasing the number of buses across the Ribble Valley, Burnley and Pendle.
• Improvements to some services in Lancaster, with revised timetables (operated by Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire) for Carnforth-Silverdale services, and Lancaster-Knott End service to provide better links with trains and improve service reliability.
Other improvements are planned, some of which start in February.
Also, LCC is “continuing to work with bus operators” to develop sustainable options to restore service links between Rawtenstall, Bacup and Todmorden; Earby and Skipton; Ormskirk, the western parishes and Southport; Lancaster, Lune Valley and Kirkby Lonsdale; Gressingham, Arkholme and Whittington and the Lune Valley.
Cllr Andrew Snowden, Lead Member for Highways and Transport, says: “These new services will transform travel in many rural areas of Lancashire by restoring public transport to villages which currently have none, and making it far more convenient to use the bus in other places where there are currently only a handful of services each day.
“Good public transport supports our economy by making sure that everyone has the opportunity to access work and education. It is also vital for people to carry out everyday tasks such as doing their shopping, visiting family and friends, and getting to health appointments.
“We've worked hard to make sure these proposals make the most impact with the resources available and already know from feedback we've received that many people are looking forward to having a decent bus service again.”
Find out more: Full details here
