A CASH boost of more than £300,000 will be used to improve bus services in an attempt to bring passenger numbers up.

Cheshire East Council has received £320,000 from Government as part of a £30 million package to improve services outside of London.

It comes two years after CEC reduced its subsidised bus network following a review which saw £1 million cut from the budget – leading to many evening and weekend services being scrapped.

Cllr Craig Browne, deputy leader of CEC, told Thursday’s full council meeting: “We are determined to use this [£320,000] as efficiently as possible – firstly to help improve connectivity across our communities, but also to help meet our carbon reduction and environmental objectives.

“Cheshire East has the country’s second lowest bus patronage per capita and this has to change – but it will only do so when bus services are frequent, reliable and affordable.

Northwich Guardian:

“I am keen for us to use this additional funding to incentivise town and parish councils, as well as employers, to work alongside us.

“Where they are prepared to invest in local services, we will seek to use this funding to match their investment.”

Cllr Browne has previously spoke of his desire to work with businesses and parish councils to help add services to the borough’s bus network.

It follows a similar model CEC used to fund a new Northwich to Shavington bus alongside Cheshire West and Chester Council – with the two authorities splitting the costs for the Sunday service.

The council is due to submit a statement of intent to Government by March 13 outlining how the extra funds will be used.

In a statement issued to councils earlier this month, Grant Shapps, transport secretary, said: “In 2020-21 we will pay an extra £30 million to local authorities to improve current services and restore lost services where they’re needed most.

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“Our aim is to drive up patronage and make travelling by bus an even more attractive option. We look forward to working with you in developing these plans.”

The Government has also announced a further £5 billion for buses across the country, but further details on that pot of money are yet to be confirmed.

Frank Jordan, CEC’s deputy chief executive, told a scrutiny meeting last month that the council would take another look at the borough’s supported bus network, which costs the authority £2.5 million a year.