WILTSHIRE COUNCIL will submit its future bus strategy for department of transport approval at the end of October. 

Under two separate funding pots, Wiltshire Council was awarded over £1.8m to improve public transport. 

This is made up of £671,171 for improving bus services in the county, and a £1.2m grant under the Rural Mobility Funding (RMF) scheme – which is part of the government’s “a better deal for bus users”.

The RMF cash will be used to answer the demand for a bus network in the Pewsey Vale – which is due to start next year. 

According to Dr Mark McClelland, the cabinet member for transport, the money will help to create a more linked up and frequent service for residents. 

Cllr McClelland said that at the end of June the council told the DfT that it wanted to set up an “enhanced partnership” with bus operators. 

During the summer, the council also sought public opinion on how to improve services across the county. 

This consultation closed at the end of August and Cllr McClelland says the local authority is still “crunching the numbers” on the results. 

The council’s future bus strategy will be submitted to the DfT on October 31 and will go back to the environment select committee early next year. 

Chippenham councillor, Nick Murry asked the cabinet member where the consideration for electric buses was in the strategy.

To which he was told the plans were “emerging” but that Wiltshire was never attractive for electric buses because there was too much mileage in the county.