Norfolk given £16m boost to make county's buses better

Transport secretary Louise Haigh announced that Norfolk would get £15.9m and Suffolk £8.8m from an £81m pot shared among councils.

Transport secretary Louise Haigh (Image: Aaron Chown / Press Association)

Campaigners have called for the money to be used to put on more frequent services, on bus shelters and on providing real time information at stops.

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Leaders at Conservative-controlled Norfolk County Council said it was too soon to say how the money will be used, but that discussions would be held with bus operators.

Graham Plant, the council's cabinet member for transport, said he was delighted that Norfolk would get a slice of the cash.

He said: "I am confident that our successful enhanced partnership will use it to continue the fantastic work and results that have been achieved through our bus service improvement plan.

"By delivering more frequent services, schemes that make bus travel quicker and more reliable, as well as improving waiting areas and providing easy access real time information, we’re seeing bus passenger numbers continue to rise across the county.

"And with an increase in satisfaction levels to go alongside it, we know that we are delivering the improvements that residents want to see."

Steve Hewitt (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Steve Hewitt, from East Norfolk Transport Users Association, called for a share of the cash to be used in the Great Yarmouth area.

He said: "We would like to see a seven day a week service to and from Gapton Hall Retail Park, plus money also spent to link Bradwell and Belton direct to the James Paget University Hospital.

"Also, we would like to see money spent on more bus shelters and better timetable information and passenger display information at these stops particularly at busy ones.

"And, finally, we'd like to see an extension of some more services in the evenings and on Sundays."

Steffan Aquarone, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, spoke in Parliament to welcome the extra cash.

He said: "I am pleased that £15m of the new funding will be heading to Norfolk to support our rural bus services, but the model for running buses in Norfolk is broken.

"We need a service that works for everyone, not just routes to and from the city and the occasional shopping bus."

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Norfolk received the fourth highest allocation in the country, with the Labour government saying money had been targeted based on need, levels of deprivation and population.