Judy Terry is a marketing professional and a former local councillor in Suffolk.
In rural areas like Suffolk, bus services are crucial for all age groups when not everyone has access to a car, especially when costs are rising: getting children to school, adults to/from work, as well as socialising, shopping or medical appointments. They are essential to wellbeing but unfortunately, they are rarely prioritised, despite growing necessity with new developments increasing pressure on services.
Services are not coordinated, meaning that a 20-minute car journey can take several hours by bus, with travellers having to change from one bus service to another when, for example, trying to reach Ipswich Hospital from a village on the Shotley peninsula! The return journey repeats the inconvenience, made even more complex with all the road works which currently cause traffic jams at all times of the day, not just at peak times.
Residents also despair at the lack of coordination, with roads closed for weeks, and even months, then dug up again when electricity or water companies – or BT – decide to upgrade; surely the works could be done at the same time, saving millions of pounds? Potholes are another issue, with repairs made to the bigger faults, leaving smaller ones nearby to deteriorate instead of repairing them at the same time.
High parking charges are having a negative impact on the High Street. Encouraging more people to use public transport would be beneficial.
So it is really good news that Suffolk County Council has secured nearly £27 million under the government’s Local Authority Bus Grant scheme over three years from 2026.
Enabling the continuation and expansion of new and improved services which commenced two years ago, shaped by community feedback, which will continue to inform progress. Enhancing services includes increasing publicity and travel information to raise awareness, helping residents to make informed travel choices.
Capital funding will deliver:
Local authorities will have flexibility to use funding to meet local needs, whether for reducing fares, introducing new routes, and investing in zero-emission buses.
Cllr. Chris Chambers, Cabinet Member for Transport Strategy welcomes the extra funding which brings certainty, allowing Suffolk to ‘work with operators on multi-year plans to transition to electric buses, improving air quality in town centres and ensuring more reliable operations.
‘With guaranteed funding in place we can deliver the improvements our communities have asked for in towns and rural areas, making bus travel a more attractive, reliable and sustainable choice for everyone.’
Last July, Suffolk County Council announced a £2.8 million investment in new bus routes and improved services resulting in increased frequency and a Sunday schedule added.
Perhaps the council could also explore the potential of working with school bus providers. Instead of leaving their buses in laybys all day, why not introduce a schedule of regular trips to pick up passengers from agreed locations, returning them prior to school pick up time. Such a plan would benefit older people who may feel lonely, enabling them to socialise more. Creating packages with hospitality and cinema/theatre venues could be very popular.
Affordable travel needs to be creative, and Suffolk are starting – but it needs to be adventurous, maybe adding extra services when Ipswich Town is playing at home!