Staffordshire County Council hopes to secure £61 million in government funding to improve the county’s bus services over the next five years.
This comes after the UK government requested all councils to submit a new bus service improvement plan (BSIP) this month.
Staffordshire’s new BSIP includes plans to extend existing routes and operating hours and introduce new services to the county.
Staffordshire missed out on funding in 2021 after making a BSIP bid for £113 million.
Council members have been working closely with the Department for Transport to increase the likelihood of acceptance of the new proposal.
“We want Staffordshire people to be better connected with improved travel options,” stated the assistant director for connectivity and sustainability at the council, Dave Atkinson.
Specifically, the new plans seek to extend routes in Tamworth, Lichfield, Rugeley, Hednesford, and Uttoxeter.
New routes would be introduced to Stone, Stafford, Newcastle, Kidsgrove, Keele, Biddulph, Hednesford, and Rugeley. A new bus route to the National Memorial Arboretum would also be introduced.
Experienced writer and journalist James McKean leads the daily editorial output at StaffsLive. To contact him, email news@staffslive.co.uk
