Better Buses are coming!

We’ve secured a major victory in our campaign to improve local bus services!

The campaign, launched in December last year, sought improvements to existing services and for the return of some vital axed routes which left whole communities cut off from the public transport network.

I wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport demanding proper funding for local bus services, but this funding was not forthcoming in the Chancellor’s Budget announced at the beginning of March.

A survey completed by hundreds of residents across West Cumbria included many suggestions which I asked Cumberland Council to consider.

The council has now decided to proceed with procuring new and improved bus services using the limited funding it still receives from the government to support local bus services. Many are those called for by residents and me and my fellow Parliamentary candidates.

• The 22 service from Cleator Moor-Cleator-Egremont-Whitehaven, which was cut completely, will be restored
• A new service between Seascale and Whitehaven will be introduced
• Sunday services on the 30 between Egremont / Frizington and Whitehaven will be increased to half hourly
• Withdrawn services on the 217 – Frizington-Cockermouth (Wednesdays) and 218 – Frizington-Workington (Fridays) routes will be restored

All of these are subject to successful bids from potential operators.

I really welcome the engagement from Cumberland’s Labour-led council on this important issue.

The decision of councillors to provide funding to support vital routes like the 22 will give local people more options to travel and better connect our towns and villages. I’ll be encouraging operators to bid to deliver these services.

Our broken bus system needs major reform and that’s something the next Labour government has committed to do. If I’m lucky enough to be elected as your MP, I’ll proudly support those reforms.