Local bus services receive £10.6m funding boost

The investment aims to increase bus use for shopping, socialising and commuting

Northamptonshire is set to receive a total of £10.6m in government funding to improve its bus services.

The funding is part of a wider initiative focused on ensuring better services across England, with £88m committed to supporting transport in the East Midlands.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh confirmed that North Northamptonshire Council was due to receive £5.2m. West Northamptonshire Council will get £5.4m.

Rosie Wrighting, the MP for Kettering, said the funding was welcome after "a decade of neglect" in local services.

"I am delighted that the Transport Secretary has confirmed £5.2m of new bus funding across North Northamptonshire," she said.

"People in the Kettering constituency are tired of unreliable, infrequent bus services holding them back from opportunities after a decade of neglect of our local bus services."

Across England, £150m has been committed to extending the cap on bus fares which will run until 31 December 2025

Ms Haigh said: "For far too long, the East Midlands has been suffering from unreliable services with buses hugely delayed, or not even turning up at all."

“Historically underserved” areas were particularly prioritised, she added.

A total of £995m has been allocated to local transport authorities across England, in an attempt to end the "postcode lottery" of bus services.