Proposed major improvements to the Island’s bus services look likely to be shelved after the Isle of Wight Council missed out on government funding.
The plans included more routes and an increased timetable.
As part of a multi-billion pound ‘Bus Back Better’ scheme, local authorities had been asked to create a partnership with bus operators in a bid to improve services outside of London and get more people using public transport.
Ideas to make public transport offer better
Through a £100,000 Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), the Isle of Wight Council and Southern Vectis put forward ideas which would make the public transport offer better.
Southern Vectis had created a 116-point wishlist of the things it would like to do to improve service on the Island.
Fairlee Bus Transit Route plans
Bigger improvements included the creation of bus lanes or specific routes around the Island, including around Coppins Bridge and a Fairlee Bus Transit Route, on the former railway line to avoid the congestion on Fairlee Road.
The BSIP also included smaller plans such as installing electronic timetables and more lighting at bus stops.
Now it has been announced the partnership was unsuccessful in its funding bid.
Jordan: Lack of funding impacts what can be brought forward
Speaking at the Isle of Wight Council’s neighbourhoods and regeneration scrutiny committee last week, Cllr Phil Jordan, cabinet member for transport, said the partnership’s aspirations would now change as the lack of funding would impact what can be brought forward.
After the meeting, though, Cllr Jordan said the partnership was still committed to the BSIP and partnership with Southern Vectis, but how the aspirations are delivered remained to be seen.
He said the little things like bus shelter improvements were still part of the aspirations.
Local Transport Plan
Other work has not been entirely ruled out, though, as the council drafts its latest Local Transport Plan (LTP) which would be the authority’s main transport policy between 2023 and 2038.
One of the items included in the LTP would be the council’s carbon net-zero target — this includes moving people out of cars and onto public transport.
Cllr Jordan said to encourage that though the Island needed good public transport, so that could mean improvements such as how buses are powered.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
