THE council has given the green light for over £1.5 million of government funding to be used to improve bus services in Cumbria.

Members of the cabinet for Westmorland and Furness Council approved the allocation of £1.701 million from the Department for Transport for a number of routes across Cumbria on July 16 at The People’s Hall in Sedbergh.

The one-off funding is set to be used to improve bus services to link communities across the region.

The allocation of the funding is subject to the outcome of a procurement exercise after which the council will seek to enter into the relevant legal agreements.

Portfolio holder for transport and regulatory services councillor Neil Hughes told the cabinet the council is ‘always  grateful’ for any help from with local transport services from government and added the deficit of public transport all over Cumbria has been an ‘issue for a long time’.

He said: “The council, although it’s only in its second year, right from the start had a key aspiration to improve our public transport.

“This is primarily to boost our economy, to give people jobs they can access, to help people shop, to attend medical appointments, to attend educational commitments and obviously it will help people visit friends and to facilitate leisure activities.”

Cabinet member for highways, assets and ICT councillor Peter Thornton said he hoped people use the supported routes as it would act as a ‘powerful incentive’ to keep them going forward.

A report prepared for the cabinet added: “This funding is not currently recurring, and it is key that the supported routes are used so that they become sustainable into the future.”

According to council documents, amongst services set to benefit, it’s proposed £203,000 will be allocated for the number 6 route between Barrow and Windermere to maintain extra peak services and to improve daytime frequency of buses.

The report adds £175,000 is set to go towards the X6 route from Barrow to Kendal to improve the frequency of services from Monday to Saturday and add more peak services towards Barrow.

Documents state £160,000 in funds will be allocated to the X5 service between Keswick and Penrith to maintain improved Monday to Saturday frequency and to increase the number of services on Sunday.

The council will also use the funds to explore the addition of new services such as a twice daily service from Alston to Penrith as well as a Little Langdale Shuttle bus.

Documents add the council will explore the extension of the 1-6 routes in Barrow from the Town Hall to BAE Systems to align with shift change times.

The report adds: “Given the importance of reliable public transport networks to local communities, and the need to ensure value for money for our residents, the focus will be to support operators to grow long term patronage, maintaining essential social and economic connectivity for local communities.

“In addition, funding will ensure connections are restored and maintained, increasing the frequency on key corridors and strengthening the financial sustainability of the sector.”

The council carried out a consultation on how to use the funds from March 19 to the end of April to which they received 1912 responses.

The authority also held public drop ins and received feedback from BAE Systems, Cumbria Tourism, Lake District National Park and University Hospital Morecambe Bay on the proposals.

Proposed bus improvements in Furness:

In the Furness area it is proposed funds will be used to increase the number of Sunday services on the number 1 from Biggar Bank to Hawcoat and the number 3 from Newbarns to Ormsgill.

Funds will also be used to increase the number of evening and Sunday services on the number two route from Town Hall to West Shore and to improve the frequency of services from Holbeck Park to Hindpool.

The number 6 service between Ulverston and Barrow via Coast Road is set to be improved as well as the 6 and X6 routes from Barrow to Windermere and Kendal respectively. The X12 from Coniston to Ulverston is also set to see an improved service.

The council will use funds to explore the extension of the 1-6 routes in Barrow from the Town Hall to BAE Systems to align with shift change times.

Proposed bus improvements in South Lakes:

In the South Lakes area, improvements are set to be made to the 106 service from Kendal to Penrith via Shap with a possible extension to Settle-Carlisle line at Langwathby. Peak services will be improved on the 505 from Coniston to Ambleside as well as the 516 service from Dungeon Ghyll to Ambleside.

The 508 service from Windermere to Penrith is set to see an increase in the frequency of buses in the summer including at peak times for workers and the 555 between Keswick and Kendal is in line to get an improved evening service. There will also be improvements to the 552 from Arnside to Kendal, the 564 from Sedbergh to Kendal and the 567 from Kendal to Kirkby Lonsdale.

Funds are proposed to be used to potentially increase the 532 service from Cartmel to Grange to operate five days per week and to provide buses on an extra day for the 597 Windermere Town service.

The council also proposes to use the funds to explore a Little Langdale Shuttle bus service at weekends in the summer and on weekdays in the school summer holidays.

Proposed bus improvements in Eden:

In the Eden area, it’s proposed funds will be used to maintain the improved Monday to Saturday 104 service from Penrith to Carlisle and to improve the Sunday service. It is proposed there will be a new 105 Greystoke to Penrith daily service with a possible extension to the Settle-Carlisle line at Langwathby.

The Wednesday service on the 561 from Appleby to Kendal is set to be re-instated and the 563 service from Penrith to Kirkby Stephen is in line to see an improved frequency of buses with a possible extension to Kirkby Stephen and Appleby railway stations.

The 646 Penrith Town service is set to see an improvement to peak services and the council is in line to support the locally funded UB1 Ullswater service. Funds are set to be allocated to the X5 service between Keswick and Penrith to maintain improved Monday to Saturday frequency and to increase the number of services on Sunday.

The council will also use the government funds to maintain the improved 680 Nenthead to Carlisle service and to explore a Monday to Friday twice daily service from Alston to Penrith.