Lancashire County Council has approved plans to improve bus stops between Longridge and Preston.

The proposals include raised kerbs, marked bus stop boxes to prevent other vehicles parking, and timetable information. High-quality shelters with seating and lighting are also proposed for some stops.  

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A report to Lancashire County Council’s cabinet outlines that the council has received £234,545 through the planning process as the result of contributions agreed with two housing developers towards improvements to highways and transport in the local area.

Read more: ‘Difficult’ and ‘inconvenient’ bus services in Preston set to be tackled

The cabinet agreed to add these funds to the 2022/23 Capital Programme in order to take forward improvements to a number of bus stops along Berry Lane, King Street, Derby Road, Kestor Lane and Preston Road.

The decision means that investigations and design work can begin, however no changes on the ground would be made without further consultation.

The programme of improvements would bring the majority of stops in Longridge town centre up to a high-quality, fully accessible, standard.

County Councillor Charlie Edwards, Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The quality of infrastructure such as bus stops can make a real difference to someone’s decision on whether to catch the bus, with feeling safe and comfortable being important factors.

“One of my top priorities is to make public transport a more attractive option, and these upgrades to bus stops in Longridge tie in well with the wider ambitions of our Bus Service Improvement Plan to get more people out of their cars and on to buses.”

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If there is budget left after the Longridge buses are completed, officers will consider putting the money towards upgrading key bus stops on the route between Longridge and Ribbleton, focusing on those in Grimsargh village centre.

For more information about buses in Lancashire visit the Lancashire County Council website.

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