Councillors are due to get an update on a proposed Bus Service Improvement Plan for the Cumberland area at a meeting next week.
Members of Cumberland Council’s highways and transport strategic board are due to meet at Allerdale House in Workington on Thursday from 2pm.
According to a report, the former Cumbria County Council published its first Bus Service Improvement Plan in October 2021 and it was updated in 2022.
The report said: “The plan outlined the ambitions for bus service improvements in the county and supports the aspirations set out in the Cumbria Transport Infrastructure Plan.”
According to the report the former county council was not successful in securing any funding from the Department for Transport following its submission.
An updated draft Cumberland plan was submitted on June 12 with the final version submitted and uploaded following this year’s General Election with a copy submitted to the strategic board on July 18 for information.
The updated plan aims to:
- Reduce the age profile of the bus fleet to offer more attractive service to passengers;
- Subsidise services where appropriate subject to funding;
- Move to an electric bus fleet;
- Improve bus station facilities in Carlisle and Workington;
- Improve waiting facilities at Keswick; Whitehaven; Wigton;
- Provide more information on next services and any delays or disruption, at key locations.
Cumberland Council was awarded a grant of £464,743 from the Government.
The report said: “The grant is to be spent within 12 months to target the actions that the council and local operators believe will deliver the best overall outcomes in growing long term patronage, revenues and maintaining service levels, whilst maintaining essential social and economic connectivity for local communities.
“In addition, the grant may be used to ensure existing connections are maintained, increasing the frequency on key corridors or the operating hours of some services, whilst reducing others, reducing fares, or introducing new local concessions to open up new markets and revenue.”
The Government also allocated £150 million previously earmarked for HS2 towards enhancing bus services in the North and the Midlands this month.
The report added: “Cumberland Council will receive £2,018,743 million which is in addition to the £464,743 as part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus from the Department for Transport.
“This was subject to BSIP update and completion of a DfT Bus Connectivity Assessment by 12 June 12, 2024, with payment received on 3 July 3, 2024.”
The first phase of the BSIP Funding was focus to pump prime services that will then have a reasonable chance of being commercially viable without subsidy, tender process which included:
- 60 Silloth – Maryport;
- 217 Frizington – Cockermouth;
- 218 Frizington – Workington;
- 101 Rockcliffe – Carlisle – Blackwell – Durdar;
- 300 Workington – Carlisle;
- 400 Restore off-peak journeys to Skinburness;
- 75 Wetheral – Carlisle – Dalston;
- 57 Maryport – Dearham – Broughton Moor – Workington;
- 30 Egremont / Frizington – Maryport;
- M1 Millom town service including Haverigg;
- 22 Cleator Moor – Cleator – Whitehaven Hospital;
- 6 Muncaster- Seascale – Whitehaven.
The report said: “Delivery is subject to tenders being submitted by operators.”
The next steps are to Undertake engagement on phase two, explore legislation and guidance changes, as well as to report feedback to the strategic board to steer the phase two proposals.
