MORE than £500,000 of Government funding is to be used on reinstating withdrawn bus services and increasing the frequency of services on some routes in south Cumbria.

Members of the highways and transport strategic board for Westmorland and Furness Council will meet on Tuesday (October 2) to agree on the list of potential routes to receive support should it be decided to provide temporary support to commercial bus service operators.

Although the council does not have a dedicated budget allocated to support commercial bus service operators, this financial year it has received £591,015 in time-limited funding from the Department for Transport with more to be confirmed.

The council hope improved public transport will provide more job opportunities to residents in the area.

A report prepared for this meeting stated: “Many of our local hospitality businesses and visitor attractions in Westmorland and Furness are suffering from the continued effects of the Covid pandemic and ongoing labour shortages.

“Cumbria Tourism published its latest tourism tracker in March 2023 with business advisors Lamont Pridmore. The report identified that 86 per cent of businesses now say they are struggling to recruit with 59 per cent reporting it as a serious concern.

“This is exacerbated by the long-term demographic challenges, lack of affordable housing and limited public transport facilities.

Bus services that are set to be reinstated include the 564 Sedbergh to Kendal route on Monday to Fridays which was previously axed earlier this year and the Grange to Cartmel circular three day a week service which stopped operating in July 2019.

The number 6 bus from Barrow to Windermere is among other routes set to receive funding to provide extra services at work times, evenings and Sundays.

A report prepared for this meeting added: “An efficient public transport system enables people to access education, employment, services, visitor attractions and events, shopping, health, social and leisure opportunities. Buses provide social value in terms of connectivity, growth and social inclusion.

“For many people without access to a car, buses are the only way they can travel to health services, to shops and leisure, to places of work, to colleges and further education. Poor bus provision, particularly in rural areas can amplify social, economic and health inequality.”