A plan to improve the quality and accessibility of bus services across Staffordshire aims to increase the number of passengers by making them a more attractive and sustainable travel option.
While the county council is not responsible for bus services, it has a role in coordinating and shaping public transport with companies and partners and helping to secure additional funding wherever possible.
The Bus Service Improvement Plan details how the county council will work with bus companies to make bus travel more accessible and reliable, using national funding to make it a reliable and sustainable option.
Central government funding for 2025/26 means the county council can continue to maintain the same levels of service as this financial year.
Among the main aims of the plan are to give everyone better links to their local town centre, provide better connections to rail stations, increase the number of people in urban areas living close to hourly bus services, ensure services complement town centre regeneration plans and improve cross-boundary to connections to Stoke-on-Trent and the West Midlands conurbation.
A range of local improvement proposals are also included in the plan. They include
- Supporting the replacement of Lichfield bus station, refurbishing Leek’s bus station and improving accessibility at Stafford and Cannock
- Real time passenger information (RTPI) at busier stops along supported routes with information totems in Tamworth, Stafford, Lichfield, Cannock, Stone, Kidsgrove, Burntwood and Rugeley
- Walking and cycling routes to bus stops in Leek, Rugeley, Kidsgrove, Biddulph, Burntwood and Chase Terrace
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for strategic highways Mark Deaville said:
“Bus travel is an essential part of our transport network, providing a sustainable and affordable option for all residents whether they live in urban or rural areas.
“We want to encourage more people to use buses as an alternative to cars as we look to reduce traffic on our roads and improve air quality. At the same time, we understand that buses are essential to many people, allowing them to access services, workplaces and places of education.
“We therefore continually strive to help make the bus travel experience better wherever we can. And while the county council is not responsible for bus services, we have a role as the transport authority to work with operators to support improved services, coordinating these across the county and securing external funding to enable this to happen.”
The Staffordshire Bus Strategy will be discussed at the county council’s economy, infrastructure and communities overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday, 27 February.
8 comments
Revd, Geoff smith
Stafford needs a proper bus station to be used by all services of every operator into the town.
VALERIE MARSDEN
Ref 432 Eccleshall to Stafford, it would be great if we could get into town for 10am so we can book early appointments for doctors etc and catch earlier connections to other towns.
Adrienne Robinson
If the 101 service came along Lichfield Road up to past the Three Crowns and then rejoined the A34 via the A51, (to go on to Stafford) say once an hour, and the other tines it does its usual route, that would make a huge difference to those of us living at that end of Stone. Then coming back from Stafford it could do the same in the opposite direction.
Irene sambrook
It would be good if we had a bus up the Lichfield Road Stone in to Stafford
There used to be one ,then it was taken off ,so I have to walk into Stone to get 101 bus and it’s about Mile walk from my house ,
David Warner
Bring back the 101 first bus on Sunday and bring back the Stone to Longton via Meir Park bus service back. The Stone town service should also be brought back
Caroline
Dg run the Sunday 101 bus service but it’s every 2 hours, I miss it every hour, as sometimes on Sunday if they miss one out due to Brake down it two hour for next one as it happens to me before in a Sunday as one broke down and had wait two hours for the next one
Rebecca Godon
A bus in our village again would be even more welcome!
Martin Horwell
A regular bus service from our village, Oulton, would be wonderful. Prefer a bus to a car.