As part of the Cumbria County Council Bus Service Improvement Plan potential initiatives, interventions and schemes were identified. Cumberland Council has updated the targets based on the Council Plan and the Council’s approach in relation to the BSIP Plus funding.
Delivery of any of these options will be subject to the availability of sufficient external funding, the relevant community engagement and consultation being undertaken, and the appropriate consents obtained via the relevant regulatory authorities.
A summary of the key areas for improvement is stated below:
Access to employment for visitor/hospitality industry within the Lake District
Many employers within the hospitality and tourism sectors have struggled to recruit sufficient staff to deliver their services. This has been exacerbated by the United Kingdom leaving the European Union and the COVID-19 pandemic with many workers returning to their home countries. This proposal will deliver a transport solution to enable workers to travel from areas of Cumbria with higher rates of unemployment to locations within the Lake District National Park.
Access to employment / learning in rural areas
Public transport can provide crucial links between rural areas and essential services like healthcare, education, and employment. The absence of commercially viable routes often results in unmet local transport needs. The Council will explore expanding Community Transport initiatives as they provide reliable transportation and enhanced accessibility, leading to improved healthcare, education, and employment outcomes. Community transport can offer flexible solutions, addressing unmet local transport needs and directly tackling community challenges.
Improve awareness of what is already available
This intervention will publicise the existing passenger transport offer in Cumbria via a combination or marketing campaigns, digital information and paper-based timetable booklets, working in partnership with bus operators, key employers and community groups.
Major infrastructure improvements
A busway will be considered to serve a new development comprising up to 10,000 dwellings, forming St Cuthberts Garden Village, which is integral to the sustainable growth of the city of Carlisle. Such a large growth in potential traffic will put strains on an already at capacity road network, and will lead to delays on existing bus services. A busway will offer fast attractive alternative transport from the development to the City Centre. As part of any future capital funding that is available the Council will also consider bus station upgrades.
Better parking restrictions and enforcement
This proposal will deliver improved on-street parking controls in; Carlisle; Borrowdale/ Newlands Valley, areas susceptible to parking issues which delay bus services. This will be achieved by a variety of traditional interventions by Civil Enforcement Officers and the introduction of camera technology where traditional enforcement has not been effective.
Better accessibility for rural areas
Many rural areas in Cumberland have little or no public transport. Building on the Rural Mobility Fund pilot, this measure will expand the digital demand responsive transport offer in other localities where a need has been identified.
New bus/rail ticketing to make sustainable travel more attractive to visitors.
Initial conversations with bus and train operating companies indicates an appetite to introduce multi-modal tickets. This will enhance the ability for passengers to travel in Cumberland using a single, transferrable ticket, which could also be marketed for local events and attractions, making reaching Cumberland by sustainable means more attractive.
Better ticketing for young people; workers; families/groups
This proposal will increase the range of ticket offers available for regular travellers including those attending education courses and the local workforce. If delivered and successful, this initiative should achieve reduced private car use and improve access to education and employment where travel costs are currently prohibitive.
Funding for modernisation of fleet to zero emissions
Cumbria County Council previously applied for funding to deliver zero-emission buses via the Government’s All-Electric Bus Town Fund. This proposal will entail engagement with operators to support any aspirations to acquire a fleet of zero-emission vehicles and the installation of the associated charging infrastructure. Cumberland Council will continue to explore all funding opportunities to support the delivery of zero-emission buses.