Nottinghamshire bus funding boost just the ticket for county's politicians

The Government’s new National Bus Strategy will see Nottinghamshire County Council work in partnership with bus operators to improve services and their access to future funding.

It is hoped the strategy will improve frequency and reliability of services and ultimately reduce costs to entice more people to ditch their cars and use public transport.

Councils and operators will be expected to provide simpler, single fares with price caps to enable passengers to use the bus multiple times a day without facing mounting costs.

Transport bosses say the money will also be used to provide more evening and weekend services, integrated services and ticketing – allowing folk to easily move between buses and trains – and improving access to information.

All buses should also be able to accept contactless payments as part of the strategy.

Councils and operators who meet the requirements will continue to receive around £100 million a month emergency Covid funding or any future funds from the £3 billion investment.

Ashfield and Eastwood MP Lee Anderson said: “Good bus services can have a transformational role in places like Ashfield and Eastwood unlocking job opportunities, boosting businesses and supporting economic growth.

"This new National Strategy Bus Strategy paves the way for simpler fares, more reliable services, and better connections across every part of the county.”

Mansfield MP Ben Bradley MP said he has ‘consistently’ been highlighting the importance of bus services in his constituency to the Department for Transport.

“As part of the ‘Levelling Up Taskforce’ in Parliament, I’ve been pressing Government to ensure that the country’s most ‘left behind’ areas are at the top of the agenda,” he said.

Councillor John Cottee, chairman of the communities and place committee at the county council, said he is looking forward to working with local authorities to improve services for passengers.

He said: “We very much welcome the announcement of the National Bus Strategy by the Prime Minister and will work with local bus operators and adjoining local authorities to improve local bus services so people can access work, training, health, shopping and leisure opportunities; as well as helping tackle congestion, air quality and climate change.”