Hucknall Connect services to receive additional financial support from Nottinghamshire County Council

Nottinghamshire County Council – working in partnership with local bus operators – will provide financial support to 19 key bus services across Nottinghamshire that would otherwise be at risk.

This includes two Hucknall services that link an array of estates with the tram and train station as well as the town centre.

The green and blue lines of the Hucknall connect services will both be supported for another six months.

Funding for the services will be provided from a new instalment of the Government's Bus Recovery Grant, announced last week, which has been set up to help routes struggling to recover to pre-covid passenger levels, along with existing council held transport funding.

The money to fund the buses will last initially until April 2023 and is in addition to £4.1m given by the council already to support a further 80 bus routes each year.

Bus companies are expected to make further commercial decisions on other routes in Nottinghamshire in the coming week which are not funded by the council.

Councillor Neil Clarke, the council's Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, has welcomed the targeted money to help bus services.

"I'm pleased that the council and the Government have teamed-up to help passengers to continue to use these bus services.

"Many residents will use these services for work, shopping and seeing friends and loved ones - and older members of our community find them especially valuable.

"We're all aware of the many challenges faced by the bus and coach industry after the worst days of the pandemic.

"I'm glad that the council can still play a crucial role in providing the investment to keep bus services running smoothly across our county", he said.

Councillor Clarke added: "We will be reviewing these services in partnership with the bus companies over the autumn, as well as looking at our existing supported network to look at longer-term options after next April. 

"It is vital that residents try to use the bus more frequently across Nottinghamshire, as it will provide us with evidence and a clear need to continue funding bus travel.

"Using the bus more will help continue to keep bus services running across Nottinghamshire now and in the future."

Councillor Clarke also highlighted the environmental benefits of using buses more, including reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change.

Cllr Clarke commented: "By getting on your local bus more frequently, passengers will help us reduce carbon emissions and get on the front-foot against climate change.

"Leave the car at home more often, jump on the bus and help us keep Nottinghamshire cleaner and greener and our bus services running."

The following 19 bus services will be partially supported by the council and the government's Bus Recovery Grant up until April 2023. The 141 bus-service will be supported until September 2023:

• 141 - Sutton in Ashfield, Skegby, Mansfield, Rainworth, Blidworth, Hucknall, Bestwood, Nottingham
• 6 (Worksop) - Worksop, Gateford, Shireoaks, Rhodesia, Worksop
• 7 (Worksop) - - Worksop, Gateford, Shireoaks, Rhodesia, Worksop
• 1 (Mansfield Miller) - Sutton in Ashfield, Huthwaite
• 1 (Mansfield Miller) - Mansfield Woodhouse, Mansfield,
• 53 - Mansfield, Pleasley, Bolsover, Sheffield
• 90 – Newark, Nottingham
• 37 - Retford, Tuxford, Sutton Trent, Newark
• 90 - Sutton, Kirkby, Selston, Ripley
• Connect in Hucknall Green Line - Hucknall estates
• Connect in Hucknall Blue Line - Hucknall estates
• The Cotgrave - Cotgrave, West Bridgford, Nottingham
• Rushcliffe Mainline - Bingham, Radcliffe, West Bridgford, Nottingham
• Rainbow 1 - Nottingham, Eastwood, Heanor, Ripley or Alfreton
• Rushcliffe Villager - Bingham, Newton, East Bridgford, Shelford, Gunthorpe, Radcliffe, West Bridgford, Nottingham
• 20 (Sunday Service) - Heanor, Ilkeston, Stapleford, Beeston, QMC, Nottingham
• 9 - Loughborough to Nottingham
• 46,47 - Woodborough, Lambley, Mapperley, Nottingham
• 18 - Stapleford, Beeston, Nottingham