Success - £31.7 million secured to Improve Bus Services and Roads

Jonathan presses on with campaign for better buses after securing £31.7 million to ‘Bus Back Better’ from government.

Jonathan has championed residents’ calls for enhanced routes, more frequent services and better value for money.

Having campaigned hard for Stoke-on-Trent to receive its own pot of money from the Bus Back Better Fund, Jonathan was delighted with the funding commitment, particularly following his constituency wide bus survey which raised a range of issues, particularly in the Packmoor, Norton, and Smallthorne communities. 

The funding is a longer term investment to help change the model of decline on our bus network. 

So far, the money has seen First Potteries announce a new £3.50 flat all-day fare, down from £5.20, and opened negotiations between the Council and providers on current routes. It will also see improvements to the weekend service. 

Part of the funding has also been earmarked for road improvements on bus routes to ensure the core infrastructure is there to make changes to the bus services. 

Jonathan is also campaigning for the protection of the 7 and 7A services as part of this funding.

He has held two well-attended community meetings with bus users in Chell Heath and Smallthorne, and will be creating more opportunities across the constituency for residents to ensure providers First and D&G are held to account. 

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VIDEO - Bus Back Better in Stoke-on-Trent