Wiltshire Council has been awarded £2.1m by the Department for Transport (DfT) to spend on improving bus services in the county.
The council's Business Plan sets out its mission to have vibrant, well-connected communities, and includes a pledge to improve rural bus links and the extra funding will be used to encourage more people to use buses, as outlined in the Bus Service Improvement Plan.
Cllr Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
We're delighted to receive this funding from the government to improve bus services here in Wiltshire.
We are committed to supporting the local economy, leisure and tourism, improving services to support vulnerable and elderly residents, and reducing carbon emissions.
We are currently seeking clarification from DfT on exactly what the funding can be spent on, but we have a range of projects ready to go, with new infrastructure such as signage and bus stops and improving the frequency of bus services.
Despite the current economic climate, high fuel prices and a national bus driver shortage, we have been able to retain bus services across the county and passenger numbers are increasing. In recent months we have replaced and extended our network of real-time passenger information signs at bus stops and secured funding to begin the feasibility work on developing a new 'Superbus network' to deliver low fare, high frequency services across the county. We are also investing in our new on-demand service in the Pewsey Vale area, which allows people to book a bus using an app or phone call and will be ready later this year.
This additional funding will enable us to continue to invest in bus services across the county. Buses are vital to connect people in a rural county like ours, and this funding, along with measures such as the Government's recently extended £2 bus fare promotion, will help to keep Wiltshire moving.
To read the council's Bus Service Improvement Plan, people should go to: Bus Service Improvement Plan - Wiltshire Council
