Essex expected to receive £17mil as part of the Better Buses Bill
Plans are announced for a once-in-a-generation reform to deliver London-style bus services to every corner of the country.
Last updated 18th Nov 2024
As part of the Better Buses Bill, Essex will receive 17 million pounds, with one aim being to protect local routes.
The investment will also keep fares down and deliver more reliable services.
The government say the investment will put an end to the 'bus postcode lottery, empower councils to take back control of services, and deliver a bus revolution.'
This government is delivering fair funding to ensure better services up and down the country, with £955 million earmarked to support bus services until 2026.
Marking a further step in the government's mission to deliver growth across the UK, Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh has confirmed £712 million funding for local authorities to improve bus services, and a further £243 million for bus operators - a longstanding grant paid to keep fares lower and services more frequent than they would otherwise be.
The government say this investment is "part of a wider plan to put passengers first and give every community the power to take back control of their bus services through franchising or public ownership."
Essex County Council have said:
“We welcome the announcement that Essex will receive £17.8 million to invest in bus services in 2025/26.
"There is a huge amount happening in Essex to improve bus services and make it easier for residents to travel by bus and this funding helps us provide assurance to residents that bus services in the county will continue to improve.
“Already, we have a 10 year partnership with Clear Channel UK to upgrade bus shelters across Essex and have secured Government funding to invest in 55 electric buses in Basildon.
"We also invest £11m a year in services that would not otherwise run commercially including our demand responsive DigiGo service which operates in Braintree and Uttlesford.
“The Travel Essex app and website remain the go-to places to plan your journeys and provide comprehensive bus information for Essex.
"The latest allocation of funding from Government will now allow us to continue to provide vital and popular bus services across the county and continue to give residents a choice on how they travel.”
The Buses Bill will be introduced in the coming weeks.