Urban Bus Challenge bid given the green light

Cumbria County Council's South Lakeland Local Committee today gave support to a proposed joint bid with Stagecoach to the Governments Urban Bus Challenge Competition, an £18m fund to kick-start pilot bus schemes that have a clear prospect of becoming commercially viable. The bid will be for Kendal town services and if successful will radically transform the local network in terms of quality and service. 

County Councillor Ian Stewart, Chair of South lakes Local Committee says, 

"I am pleased that the Committee supports the Urban Bus Challenge bid in Partnership with Stagecoach in Cumbria. Over the last year or so Kendal town bus services have been used by less people, which contradicts the aim to persuade us out of our cars and onto public transport. The Committee invested £10,000 to support those services that became unviable and were withdrawn by Stagecoach in April this year. The Urban Bus Challenge fund is an opportunity to achieve a comprehensive upgrade of Kendal town services and meet the objectives of the Local transport Plan to promote walking, cycling and public transport, reducing reliance on the car." 

The basic principles of a bid for Kendal would be; 

• Improved service frequency so the bus provides a realistic alternative to the car, including peak hour and evening services. 
• Review existing routes and service patterns to provide better service access. 
• Replace town buses with low floor easy access vehicles. 
• Upgrade bus stops to provide level access and shelters. 
• Improve information available at the roadside and elsewhere.     

The deadline for submission of a bid to the Urban Bus Challenge Competition is 26 September 2003.