�1million cash boost for St Albans bus services

A �1 MILLION-plus kickstart to make improvements to bus services in the St Albans district has been secured by a new partnership.

Network St Albans, which was set up to improve transport and reduce congestion around St Albans, has acquired �935,000 from the Department of Transport's Kickstart funding which is allocated to areas where new or enhanced bus services are required.

The money can be used to include the frequency of some bus services - including the S1-5 services - and buy new buses. Residents should see new bus timetables and improved services from this autumn.

In addition Network St Albans - the first partnership of its kind between local authorities, transport operators and the University of Herts - has secured �470,000 in funding from the European Regional Development Fund via the East of England Development Agency and in partnership with Suffolk county council.

The European funding will be used to work with businesses in St Albans to give their employees incentives to use public transport and towards the provision of increased passenger information.

Running alongside the two new sources of funding, other money is supporting improvements such as additional bus shelters and highway improvement measures.

Stephen Joseph, chair of Network St Albans and executive director of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: "At a time when public finances are tight, it is to the credit of all the partners involved in Network St Albans that this significant amount of funding has been secured.

"As a result of this funding and the work of the partnership, bus services in the district will become more accessible and easy to use as well as helping to reduce emissions and congestion levels within the city centre.

"Success in St Albans could form the blueprint for similar plans in towns across Herts and nationally.