Village News

Christmas Lights

210317 | Great value bus travel is coming to Cornwall as Council leads the way with pioneering trial

Reduced bus fares graphic

 

Residents will pay significantly less to travel by bus from next week under a new pilot scheme led by Cornwall Council to encourage more people to travel by bus.

The reduced bus fares pilot scheme is a first for a local authority and follows a successful bid by the Council for £23.5m funded by UK Government.

It will mean adult bus passengers will, on average, pay one-third less for their fares when new summer timetables are introduced on Sunday, April 10.

The pilot, which aims to encourage more people to hop on the bus and leave their cars at home, will run for the next four years.

It is hoped the scheme will cut car emissions as road transport currently accounts for around a quarter of all of Cornwall’s carbon emissions.

The Council has worked with bus operators to transform Cornwall’s public transport network in recent years following a government Devolution Deal in 2016.

Most of Cornwall’s buses are among the newest in the country, stops have been upgraded and many now feature Real Time Passenger Information displays to give passengers up to the minute information about their journeys.

The latest improvement has seen operators now accepting each other’s tickets for travel – all making public transport easier to understand and use.

The reduced bus fares pilot is a central pillar of Cornwall’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, submitted to Government in October 2021 as a bid for transformational funding over the next three years that will further develop the bus network.

Philip Desmonde, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, said: “I am very pleased and proud we have been able to deliver the amazing value for money outcomes on our Bus routes throughout Cornwall. Great for work, school and reaching the County services whilst contributing to lowering our carbon footprint.

“Road transport is major contributor of carbon dioxide emissions and research shows that around a third of journeys made by car are of less than 5km. We all need to think about how we travel and I hope that this pilot will encourage more people to make more sustainable choices. If we all swap even one regular journey, it will make a difference.

“I invite you all to try the simple pleasure of riding on one of our wonderful buses and experiencing our beautiful Cornish countryside, towns, villages and coastal scenes.”

Linda Taylor, leader of Cornwall Council, said: “This is very welcome news which will make a real difference to our residents and ultimately, our environment.

“Making our buses better value and easier to use will give our residents a much more attractive, sustainable travel option and is instrumental in our journey to helping Cornwall become carbon neutral.”

Richard Stevens, managing director at Go Cornwall Bus said; “We are delighted to be a partner in this innovative scheme, for years people have told us price is one of the main barriers to regular bus use. This pilot seeks to remove price as a barrier, enabling us to offer excellent value for money fares. I hope that every Cornwall resident will seek to add bus travel to their regular lives, helping to secure a sustainable, connected future for the rest of our lives.”

Simon Goff, managing director of First South West, said: “Anything that makes choosing the bus an even more enticing option is to be warmly welcomed and we look forward to helping even more passengers get to their destinations safely and efficiently over the coming months and years. Cornwall Council deserves praise for leading this initiative which is sure to have a significant and lasting positive impact throughout the county.”

The scheme will be marketed and delivered by Transport for Cornwall a partnership of Cornwall Council and its transport operators.

 

David Sidebottom, director at Transport Focus, said: “Cheaper fares are vital in winning passengers back and attracting new ones.

“Our research has shown that Cornwall’s bus passengers wanted better value for money fares. These plans should drive up passenger satisfaction and encourage more people to give bus a go.”

via https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-news/transport-streets-and-waste/gre...

Book page

TitleCreated
240310 | Detailed plans for affordable-led housing in Connor Downs 10th March 1 week 22 hours agoBook page
240310 | Waste collections changes Helston, Penzance, Hayle | second phase:food waste, recycling, rubbish - commences July 1 week 23 hours agoBook page
240218 | Collapsed North Quay development in Hayle described as a 'sea of despair' 3 weeks 5 days agoBook page
240214 | Hayle North Quay development collapse sees eight companies go bust Work has ground to a halt on the blocks of flats 4 weeks 23 hours agoBook page
240220 | Poling works | Grist Lane and Marsh Lane, Angarrack | expected 20 Feb 2024 0830-1630, for one day 5 weeks 6 days agoBook page
231130 | Are you ready for weekly food waste recycling? | Food Waste, Recycling and Rubbish Collection Changes 14 weeks 4 days agoBook page
230821 | People of Cornwall town 'thrown under bus' over housing plan | direct result of councillors handled Hayle masterplan 29 weeks 5 days agoBook page
230817 | When will new rubbish collection changes start, Cornwall 30 weeks 4 days agoBook page
230809 | Holiday park in Cornwall for emergency housing still empty | Sandbank site purchased Cornwall Council in Jan 2022 31 weeks 2 days agoBook page
230811 | Decision on huge solar farm at Carnhell Green: refused 31 weeks 3 days agoBook page
230809 | Nearest NHS dental practice to Cornwall taking new patients 31 weeks 3 days agoBook page
230730 | Practice Comparison: Praze-An-Beeble Surgery; Bodriggy Health Centre | 2023 GP Patient Survey 33 weeks 1 day agoBook page

Jeremy Rowe LD | Egloshayle, St Breock, St Ervan, St Eval, St Issey, St Mabyn & St Tudy