A Norwich park & ride site threatened with closure has been saved after a new company was found to run its bus service, reports Norwich Evening News. Services to the city’s eastern Postwick P&R site were expected to cease because of the amount of subsidy required from Norfolk County Council for the service.
The service has been operated by Konectbus since 2015, but the council ruled out continuing to subsidise the route, which has been taken over on a commercial basis by Central Connect and will be operated by its Diss-based Simonds subsidiary, which will also operate services to Harford, whilst First Bus has won the contracts to run park & ride services from the city’s Thickthorn and Norwich Airport sites.
The Sprowston park & ride site will be opened up to operators to use as a transport hub on city routes instead of having a dedicated bus service. The changes are due to come into effect from next April.
Norwich City Council’s cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport Graham Plant explained: “Operators have impressed us with their creativity for the services and I’m certain that both First and Central Connect can create a service for residents that is sustainable for the future. During these times of increased financial pressures within local government we have to be careful with every penny we spend. That’s why we made it our ambition to find a solution so that this service can be run without any subsidy.”
