Councils have teamed up with local bus operators and associations to direct a change to bus services across the county.

On February 9, the Enhanced Partnership Forum had its inaugural meeting.

Over 30 representatives from Westmorland and Furness Council, Cumberland Council, Stagecoach, various independent bus operators and associates, including Cumbria Tourism, participated in round-table conversations on enhancing bus transport. 

The Westmorland and Furness Council pledged to expand on the preliminary discussions and work collaboratively with partners to allocate £1.7 million of funding granted to the Council in 2024/25 between now and June.

The funding, awarded by the Department for Transport, includes over £412,000 from the Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus (BSIP+) funding and an added £1.28 million redirected from HS2 following the Government’s Network North announcement.

Councillor Neil Hughes, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environmental Services, said: "Buses play a vital role in our communities, offering a lifeline for many of our residents, particularly in more rural areas.

"We aim to build on the fantastic work that has already been delivered by working together with partners in the coming months to understand the needs of our communities and agree how best to allocate the £1.7 million of funding.

"Our vision is to make public transport sustainable and reliable, and establish well-used bus services that will take us one step closer to achieving our net zero ambitions."

The Enhanced Partnership Forum will next meet in September 2024.