Town's buses get £900k to improve services

Slough Borough Council has approved more than £900,000 to improve bus services

More than £900,000 has been approved by a council to improve a town's bus services.

It is part of a £2.2m investment in Slough where the borough council was previously awarded £1.3m by the Department for Transport (DfT).

The authority said the full investment would fund better access to the town centre and a bus interchange service to Wexham Park Hospital and Heathrow Airport.

A report to the council's cabinet recommended councillors approve the capital spending, saying it would lead to "a borough for children and young people to thrive" and "a town where residents can live happier, safer and more independent lives".

The funding would also be used to upgrade traffic signals, improve services at two bus stops where bus arrivals are poor and shorten journey times, the council - which investing a further £63,000 in the scheme - said.

There would also be reduced ticket prices for passengers who take multiple bus services for their journey, with more evening and Sunday services introduced.

Councillor Paul Kelly, cabinet member for highways and transport, told Monday's meeting: "These combined measures represent a forward-thinking and exciting programme of investment and public transport in Slough.

"Working with our colleagues as well as our vital key stakeholders such as Heathrow Airport, Great Western Railway (GWR) and neighbouring local authorities we hope to make a significant improvement for those who need sustainable transport in our borough."

Zero-emission buses might be purchased using the capital funding, as set out in the report, but the council has not yet committed to the plans.