Seven at-risk bus services in Milton Keynes have been saved after local MPs Ben Everitt and Iain Stewart secured funding from the Conservative Government.
Local Conservative councillors have now led calls for Milton Keynes City Council to develop a long-term bus strategy for the city.
The Milton Keynes South MP Iain Stewart continues to fight for better transport across the whole country in his new role as chair of the Transport Select Committee.
The local MPs secured funding worth more than £650,000 across 2023/24 from the Conservative Government through the Bus Service Improvement Plan. This funding will go to supporting the following services for the next year:
- 1 via Newport Pagnell, Green Park, Downs Barn
- 2 via Newport Pagnell, Poets’ Estate, Downs Barn
- 3 via Lovat Fields Village
- 4 via Greenleys, Great Holm, Shenley Church End
- 7 via Oakridge Park, Great Linford
- 41 via Olney
- 21 via Olney, Emberton
Iain Stewart MP commented:
“In my inbox, I consistently receive complaints from constituents about the lack of buses in Milton Keynes and the problems they are experiencing with MK Connect. In fact, recently, I undertook a survey in Tattenhoe which came back with only 9% of respondents thinking the MK Connect service is a good public transport system.
“Therefore, I am delighted that the Government has been able to help save some bus routes in Milton Keynes, such as the Number 4 which passes through Shenley Church End & Great Holm, but it is now up to Milton Keynes City Council to provide a long-term strategy for buses in Milton Keynes.”
At a meeting at Milton Keynes City Council on Tuesday evening (11th July), Conservative councillors welcomed the confirmed funding for the seven services but called on the council to get a grip on bus services across the city by setting up a cross-party working group to help develop a long-term bus strategy for MK.