BUSINESSES have been supported by nearly £600,000 worth of council funding to help more staff get to work this year.

Nine bus routes across Westmorland and Furness have been boosted with funding to connect communities and provide better access to employment.

The number six service between Barrow and Windermere and the X4/5 service that runs between Keswick and Penrith have seen the frequency of services increased to help staff get to and from work in hotels, restaurants and tourism businesses.

Funding from the Supported Bus Services Grant to the sum of £178,885 was allocated to these two services in response to concerns raised by the effects of the Covid pandemic, labour shortages and difficulties recruiting staff.

Communities have also been connected thanks to £412,130 of Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus (BSIP+) funding which has been allocated to support seven other bus routes.

The Council say the intention of the funding is to try and rebuild passenger numbers to pre-pandemic levels and to make the routes more sustainable in the longer term.

The seven routes supported by the BSIP+ funding are:

  • Service 40 Kendal Town operated by Stagecoach: Sunday route retained
  • Service 532 Cartmel – Allithwaite – Grange-over-Sands operated by Blueworks: New off peak services on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to complement Kirkby Lonsdale Coaches’ service 530 to Kendal
  • Service 597 Windermere Town operated by Lakeland Commercials: Friday service restored to complement locally-funded services on Tuesdays and Thursdays
  • Service 680A Alston – Brampton – Carlisle operated by Telford Coaches: Previously withdrawn route restored
  • Service 104 Penrith – Plumpton – Carlisle operated by Stagecoach: Half-hourly service restored providing a more direct route to Carlisle
  • Service 552 Arnside – Milnthorpe – Natland – Kendal operated by Kirkby Lonsdale Coaches: Upgraded the three day service to six days
  • Service 563 Penrith – Appleby – Kirkby Stephen – Sedbergh – Kendal operated by Stagecoach: Restored the Monday to Friday service between Sedbergh and Kendal with increased services offered from Kirkby Stephen to Penrith and Kendal.

Gill Haigh, Managing Director of Cumbria Tourism, said: “The funding made available to support the increased frequency of the services and extended timetables is a prime example of delivering against the plan objectives.

“We are working closely with businesses to raise their awareness and, in turn, help remove some of the staff transport challenges.

“We are also working closely with Westmorland and Furness Council to secure further business feedback to inform further ways in which the funding can support worker transport.”

Angela Jones, Director of Thriving Places at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “Supporting these bus routes across our area is an important part of improving public transport links for our residents, many of who rely on buses to access key services and employment.

“We aim to build on the fantastic work that has already been delivered by working together with communities in the coming months to understand their needs and how best to allocate a further £1.7 million of funding to enhance more services by the end of 2024.”

Communities are now being invited to have their say on how a second round of BSIP+ funding should be used.

Those who wish to take part can do so by clicking here, or by visiting any Westmorland and Furness Library and requesting a paper copy.