Council Agree Funding Plans to Restore and Improve Bus Services In Westmorland And Furness

Funding to restore or improve bus routes and services in Westmorland and Furness is to be targeted at reconnecting communities and boosting access to public transport.

Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus Funding of £412,130 awarded to Westmorland and Furness Council for 2023/24 by government will be used to support routes which have been withdrawn or reduced within the past five years in areas where they are most needed to ensure communities are reconnected and access to public transport services restored.

The restored local services (subject to confirmation after going out to tender) are:

Penrith – North Lakes School (2): Restore the afternoon service

Penrith – Carlisle (104): Restore half-hourly  service (currently hourly).

Kendal –Penrith (106): Restore Wednesday service (currently Tuesday and Friday only)

Alston – Carlisle (680): Restore twice a week service

Appleby – Kendal (561): Restore Wednesday service

A further £178,885 is to be used to support access to employment opportunities in the hospitality and tourism sector to provide improved transport connectivity for workers.

The local improved service under the plan and also subject to confirmation after going out to tender is the Keswick – Penrith (X4/5): Increase frequency from every hour to every 30 minutes and offer an evening service Thursday to Sunday

The improvement plan and funding was approved by Westmorland and Furness Council at today’s Highways and Transport Strategic Board meeting in Kendal.

Councillor Hughes, who is deputy chairman of the board and Cabinet Member for Transport and Environmental Services, said: “Buses play a vital role in our communities and are hugely important if we are to meet our net zero ambitions. An efficient public transport system enables our residents and visitors to access education, employment, services, visitor attractions and events, shopping, health, social and leisure opportunities.”

“This one-off grant funding will enable the council to implement some much-needed bus service improvement and support bus operators to provide essential bus services where there is an unmet need.  This sends a strong message that we believe public transport is essential and we are willing to subsidise routes.”

Among the council’s plans is the reinstatement of the service last month by stagecoach that provided the town school bus service for the end of school day for North Lakes School and Brunswick School. Stagecoach earlier this year said the service was to end from the start of the new school year due to the company requiring the bus for another contract awarded by Westmorland and Furness Council.

Cllr Thornton, cabinet member for highways and assets, said: “If the public want buses, they have to use them. We are providing this funding on a temporary basis but if the public don’t actually get on these buses, they will cease at the end of this time.”