On-demand bus scheme expanded to remote Nottinghamshire villages

The expansion is part of a £5m investment to improve bus services

An on-demand bus scheme which allows residents to request a ride whenever they need it is being extended to cover more remote Nottinghamshire villages.

The move is part of a £5m investment to improve and expand bus services across the county.

Nottinghamshire County Council said its Demand Responsive Travel Service had proved popular with isolated bus users.

The expansion is set to launch in the Rushcliffe, Gedling, Broxtowe, Ashfield and Newark areas in 2024.

The service will allow people to travel anywhere between bus stops or other designated points in each service zone at a convenient time, using an app or phone call to book a seat.

Some scheduled services will be replaced by the bus scheme, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Bus service pledge

The county council also plans to take over 12 routes with low passenger numbers which are not deemed to be commercially viable by their operators, at a cost of £1.4m.

Neil Clarke, cabinet member for transport and the environment, said it would help remote communities stay connected.

"We have a pledge that every resident in the county has access to bus services and are working towards fulfilling that," he said.

"This will serve remote and isolated communities and enable them to connect to main services."

Although people will not be able to request pick-ups from their house, buses will use existing stops and landmarks like village halls.