Dorset council unveils public transport improvement plans
Dorset was allocated £3.3m of Bus Grant funding as part of the government's £670m funding to enable local authorities to deliver their BSIPs. The delivery plan, which was approved on 20 March, is conditional on its submission and publication online.The council said it would aim at boosting public transport use and improving accessibility, particularly for rural communities.The BSIP also envisions trialling an electric minibus to promote a sustainable, low-emission fleet.Mr Andrews called the projects planned for 2025/26 "incredibly exciting"."From improved bus services to infrastructure upgrades and electric vehicle trials, these improvements will make transport more accessible, reliable, and sustainable, benefitting residents and visitors alike."But he added that Dorset "remains disadvantaged by the current funding allocation formula"."The money we've received from government is only a small part of what is required to transform the bus network across Dorset, and longer-term funding is key to us achieving our BSIP vision," Mr Andrews said."We will work closely with our MPs to advocate for fairer funding in the future to truly unlock the potential of public transport across our county."
You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Developer given green light to remove hedgerows in Ilminster
One of the UK's largest housebuilders has secured approval to remove large sections of hedgerow ahead of putting forward revised plans for 360 new homes at a nature reserve in Homes was granted planning permission in January 2024 to build homes near the Meadows Surgery, in Canal Way in Ilminster. The development site was designated as a nature reserve by South Somerset District Council in July 2018.A spokesperson for Persimmon Homes said the company would work with the council to "meet our shared goals of taking on the housing crisis with real action, leaving a positive and lasting legacy in Ilminster". The Exeter-based developer submitted plans in June for the access arrangements, which involved removing 120 metres (393ft) of hedges and changing the layout of the surgery's car park. Persimmon said the new development would deliver a biodiversity net gain of 10%, in line with government to the plans, the developer will maximise hedgerow retention, plant additional hedgerows and monitor and manage wildlife said dormouse boxes would be provided and 1.6 hectares (16,000 sq metres) of woodland would be planted. The spokesperson added: "In addition to these ecological enhancements and meeting housing need in the area... we are investing nearly £3.5m in community infrastructure as part of our plans for Ilminster."Persimmon is due to submit the detailed planning application in September, the Local Democracy Reporting Service Council is then expected to make a decision on the development within months.
BBC News
18 hours ago
- BBC News
New Grantham £8m council depot 'taking shape' ahead of opening
A new £8.8m council depot is "taking shape" ahead of opening, an authority Kesteven District Council (SKDC) plans to take control of the depot in Turnpike Close, Grantham from contractor Lindum Group on 30 October, with a go-live date scheduled for 1 authority said it would accommodate a range of services including waste, park maintenance and street cleaning, along with more than 250 cabinet member for property and public engagement, Councillor Richard Cleaver, described the new depot as "future-proofed and sustainable". Clearance works have begun at the current depot in Alexandra Road, which was built in the 1970s and is at the end of its operational life, a spokesperson old depot will remain in operation until the handover has taken place and SKDC said it was continuing to assess options for the site's future completed so far includes the steel structures for the main depot building and external roof and external cladding are being added, and joinery work is scheduled in the next few authority said Lindum Group was working on the lorry parking area and work would start on the main car park said it had allocated £500,000 in addition to the build cost for mobilisation to relocate its services and staff from the existing said the new depot would "improve welfare and working conditions for our brilliant staff". Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
BBC News
21 hours ago
- BBC News
Last Pub Standing in Norwich applies for longer music hours
The owners of a city centre pub hoped to host later outdoor music events despite previous noise complaints from Last Pub Standing, in Norwich, applied to the council for an amendment to its premises licence to permit the playing of music in the garden until King Street bar currently has to shut off entertainment in the garden at 22:00 BST, or 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, under an agreement made less than two years officials have raised concerns about the application, pointing to a history of noise complaints and enforcement action which previously troubled the venue. It will be discussed at a Norwich City Council meeting. A previous premises licence was lost when a company set up by the owner of the pub, Simon Peters, with a business colleague, went into to a split between the pair, a new company was formed by Mr Peters and the licence was an administrative mistake meant the venue was mistakenly operating without a licence for some time before it secured a new licence in January licence was currently in use, but Mr Peters said it was handed to him with "more onerous terms" than the original, including strict limits on the use of the garden and the shutting of windows. His new application sought to extend the hours permitted for the playing of recorded music in the back garden to 23:00, or midnight on Fridays and also hoped to secure permission to leave windows open when entertainment is playing, to prevent overheating inside the Peters was given temporary permission to trial these later hours over the Easter period and said no complaints were received during this application is set to be considered at a meeting of Norwich City Council's licensing sub-committee on of that decision, the authority's environmental protection team have objected on public nuisance grounds, with an officer saying it is "important to note that an abatement notice" is in place in relation to objection added that a revised noise impact assessment would be required. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
