Bus Services Improvement Plan funding
Case reference FOI2024/00033
Published 29 January 2024
Request
Under The Freedom of Information Act, please inform me as to how the Bus Services Improvement Plan 2023 funding is to be allocated and when. I see from the 1921 plan that frequency of services is a main priority for travellers. Bus services between County Towns and The City need to be restored to hourly with extra services for students. Bus services between villages, county towns and The City need to be improved to hourly in accordance with the Campaign for Rural England 2018 report, Every Village Every Hour.
Response
Under The Freedom of Information Act, please inform me as to how the Bus Services Improvement Plan 2023 funding is to be allocated and when. I see from the 1921 plan that frequency of services is a main priority for travellers. Bus services between County Towns and The City need to be restored to hourly with extra services for students. Bus services between villages, county towns and The City need to be improved to hourly in accordance with the Campaign for Rural England 2018 report, Every Village Every Hour.
A: The Service Area have provided the following:
We are currently in negotiations with our Enhanced Partnership in terms of costs and viability of services.
BSIP+ funding will be used to establish a firm foundation for the Herefordshire bus network, on which to build develop and improve service provision. We aim to use the funding to meet the aim to meet the BSIP objective to establish a coherent, consistent and integrated bus network that is well understood and easy to use therefore contributing positively towards Herefords ambitions for decarbonisation and environmental improvements and support the wellbeing of Herefordshire residents.
The BSIP+ priorities for Herefordshire (in order) are:
1. Support the existing network where services are at risk and identified by operators
2. Hourly core network throughout Herefordshire
3. 2 hourly secondary network throughout Herefordshire
4. Enhanced early morning and later afternoon services
5. Continued support for Sunday service
6. Enhanced evening offer on core network.
It is recognised that the BSIP+ funding is short term only. We want the funding to be used in a meaningful way and so proposals needed to be sustainable, building on the current network and operation and utilising BSIP+ as a kick-start to enhancements.
Further information will follow in the coming weeks.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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