The future of Kent’s bus services

Kent County Council is asking residents to help shape the future of bus services in Kent. 

The National Bus Strategy, launched in March, requires Local Transport Authorities such as KCC to work with bus operators to produce a Bus Service Improvement Plan to set out a vision and broad plan for better bus services across the county. This plan, the first iteration of which must be submitted by October, will provide the basis for securing funding from government to deliver its priorities. Detailed service plans and standards will be set out in an Enhanced Partnership Scheme, which must be in place by April 2022. KCC has already issued a statutory notice indicating its wish to establish an Enhanced Partnership Scheme.

As these plans are worked up, the County Council is asking for residents’ views. This will start with a two-item questionnaire, to be completed by 25 July, but you will also be able to subscribe to the page and be part of further, more detailed engagement as we move towards developing the Bus Service Improvement Plan and Enhanced Partnership Scheme. 

You can find the KCC media release on this here, with a link to the engagement page. The National Bus Strategy is a major initiative with potentially significant implications for Kent. There are always risks, and plenty of unknowns, but opportunities too.