Next Tuesday (11 July 2023) Executive Board will vote on investing £200,000 to improve local bus services.
The report will give an update on the position of transitional funding from Welsh Government together with the Council’s intention to support local bus network.
Members will be asked that the funding be used to build on the existing bus network and invest in increased evening and weekend services, which may open up local bus service for new users.
There’s also plans to engage with key stakeholders to understand the barriers people face to using public transport.
“Bus network has suffered over the past few years”
Councillor David A Bithell Lead Member for Housing with Responsibility for Strategic Transport said that the Councils administration had supported £200,000 investment this year in local bus Network.
Councillor Bithell added, “The bus network has suffered over the past few years with continued cuts to services. We have been working with Welsh Government and the bus industry to review and improve the network especially post pandemic. It is important given our drive on decarbonisation as we look for alternatives transport modes other than the car, to do this we need to see improvement to public transport.
“This funding in year one supports existing routes by extending services during the evening and at weekends subject to procurement. This will also support the local economy and support our city centre and encourage people to look at alternative methods of travel. We are also actively lobbying bus operators and Welsh Government to reduce their fares and encourage more use within the bus industry.
“Subject to executive board approval we will be looking to introduce and enhance the network in early autumn.”