County's buses to get new routes and improvements

Some changes to Ipswich Buses services will be seen through the funding

New bus routes will be launched and services improved following an allocation of funding.

Suffolk County Council was awarded a total grant of £8m from the Department for Transport's Local Authority Bus Grant last month, with £2.8m allocated for this project.

As well as new routes, some services will have increased frequency and a Sunday schedule added. The majority of services will start in late August or early September, but a new service to replace the axed Marham Park Flyer began on Monday.

Councillor Chris Chambers, in charge of transport strategy at the council, said the news represented "the biggest positive change" to services since 1998.

"We have been working extensively, over many months, with local providers and the community to find solutions for those affected by the cancellation of the Marham Park Flyer service," Chambers said.

"The Local Authority Bus Grant for 2025/26, which the council received from the Department for Transport on 1 June, has enabled us to offer a replacement for this much-loved route.

"To reduce the gap in services around Marham Park, we worked with the Traffic Commissioner to ensure a shorter notice period than usually required for the new route to begin and I am pleased that this new route has now started."

Residents were able to suggest bus stop improvement projects for consideration on the council's website

A full list of new services or changes to current routes can be found on the council's website.

The council also previously announced £5.2m of the Local Authority Bus Grant would go toward new and improved bus stops, bus stations, bus priority measures or vehicle upgrades.

Local transport minister, Simon Lightwood, said he was "delighted" to see the county council using a portion of their funding to "bring real improvements to services".

"From more buses on Sundays to the reinstatement of the Marham Park Flyer, these changes are kickstarting a bus revolution to drive economic growth and ensure people have proper access to jobs and opportunities, helping us to deliver the Plan for Change," he added.