The continued protection of an at risk Nottingham bus route has been welcomed after the previous operator cut the service due to financial problems.
In 2022, Nottingham City Transport (NCT) introduced a new 3A service to Silverdale and South Wilford, replacing the existing CT4N services 2, 22, and 23.
CT4N said at the time the services had become “commercially unviable”, citing the impact of the Covid pandemic and rising operating costs – including fuel and wages.
Nottingham City Council, the majority shareholder of NCT, says the service will be protected again using leftover Government funding.
Its protection was guaranteed at an Executive Board meeting on Tuesday (23 July).
Cllr Andrew Rule (Ind), who represents Clifton West, said: “I want to welcome the funding that has been earmarked for diverting the service into South Wilford and Silverdale following the withdrawal of the CT4N service.”
Around £830,000, left over from an underspend last year from the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan funding pot, will be used to protect a number of services, in addition to the 3A to Silverdale and Wilford Village.
The money will help provide school journeys for city children attending schools in East Leake under the 1E service, while current registered frequencies for the 45, 49, 70/71, 18A/19, and weekends for the 45/53/54 will also be retained.
The Department for Transport now awards funding to the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), which is led by Labour Mayor Claire Ward.
EMCCA passes on funding to each constituent council, including Nottingham City Council.
For the current financial year, which began on 1 April, EMCCA awarded the council a further £2.4 million in funding from the Government to support a number of initiatives.
The funding will allow the council to keep its commuter discount scheme and maintain free pre-9.30am travel for city residents who are mobility card holders.
More than £500,000 will also go towards keeping free travel arrangements for care leavers and young carers.
Robin Hood travel cards will be given to young people leaving the care of Nottingham City Council.
Cllr Cheryl Barnard (Lab), Executive Member for Children and Young People, who represents Bulwell Forest ward, said: “I am really pleased to see the concessions for free travel for care leavers and young carers.
“For care leavers in particular – when they are becoming independent, to have that ability to travel to see family, attend job interviews, and get to work – is really important.”
Some of the funding will be used to support the continued rollout of 62 electric buses across the NCT network.
“We are also adding to the £4.9 million worth of infrastructure investment in the rollout of electric buses across the city,” Cllr Linda Woodings, Executive Member for Regional Development, Growth and Transport, added.
“That will massively help our ambition to become carbon neutral by 2028. It is a better passenger experience, and it reduces air pollution and noise pollution in our neighbourhoods as well.”
The meeting heard each bus comes with a 15-year manufacturer guarantee for batteries, following concerns over the costs of replacements.
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