Funding for Number 8 Bus

Published: 19 August 2020

PRESS RELEASE:

 

Photo of the number 8 bus parked outside a supermarket 

 

In early 2020, Government announced a £220m investment in bus services in the UK. ‘A Better Deal for Buses’ includes a package of possible funding opportunities for Local Authorities to access and apply to the provision of bus service initiatives designed to explore new types of service provision in providing better connections for communities, increase productivity and reduce congestion.


One strand of the package was ‘Funding for Supported Bus Services’ designed to provide Local Authorities with additional support to provide more services in their area. Kent County Council submitted a successful bid for this funding and in June was awarded just over £1m to support the proposals that we put forward.

 

KCC have said: “As well as continuing to support our Rural Initiative Pilots KCC , we are pleased to be able to use some of the funding to support the Number 8 service in Sevenoaks: Sevenoaks Number 8 Bus 

The Number 8 has opened a route not traditionally served by local bus services and was  very popular before being disrupted by Covid 19. We hope that our support will enable this award-winning service to continue to thrive when “normality” is restored”.

 

Sevenoaks Town Council are grateful to KCC and Go Coach the operator for supporting the No 8 Bus from the beginning of the project and for the immediate future. During these difficult economic times, such support is vital to enable such community services to continue.

 

Linda Larter MBE
Chief Executive / Town Clerk
19th August 2020