Update on Council's bus service improvement plan
Cheshire West and Chester Council is progressing initiatives to improve bus services in the borough through its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
The National Bus Strategy for England published in 2021 formalised an expectation that local councils and bus operators should work in partnership to deliver better bus services in their area. An Enhanced Partnership agreement was set up in the borough to achieve this in April 2022.
Councillor Karen Shore, Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, said:
Initiatives put into place by the Cheshire West Enhanced Partnership so far have included:
- Bus operators supporting Afghan and Ukraine guests by providing two months free travel.
- Allowing concessionary travellers to make bus journeys before 9.30am during school summer holiday this year, so those still nervous of travelling do so at different times to rebuild their confidence.
- Substantial promotion of the Park & Ride service to ease congestion in the city centre, following the opening of Chester's very popular new market and in the build up to Christmas.
Future schemes will include:
- Supporting the Government's £2 fare initiative in the new year, encouraging all operators to take part to make bus travel a mode of choice for the many in the borough and not the few; for employment, education and leisure.
- The launch of a demand responsive rural mobility bus service in the early part of 2023. More details to follow soon.
- Taking part in the Transport Focus bus passenger satisfaction survey "Your Bus Journey". The survey will be launched in January 2023 and will further shape our BSIP to help drive bus service improvements across the borough.
Councillor Shore added:
More information on the Council's plans for bus services: