Council announces new bus improvement scheme
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL have announced that people travelling by bus in Gosport are set to benefit from a range of improvements, which have been designed to make travel safer and reduce anti-social behaviour including on the popular Eclipse route.
The ‘Gosport Travel Safe’ initiative is being led by Hampshire County Council and has been saving funded using Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) Government grant. It brings together partners of Portsmouth City Council, Gosport Borough Council, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, and First Bus together, where they will aim to improve safety and reduce anti-social behaviour across the bus network through measures such as a visible patrol presence.
The initiative includes Uniformed Travel Safe Officer patrols in Gosport, who will be trained and legally empowered to respond to anti-social behaviour whilst also assisting passengers. There is further set to be upgrades and investments into eighteen new bus shelters, as well as the installation of twenty-four hour live-monitored CCTV cameras across bus corridors. Improved lighting is finally set to be put at key locations, whilst vegetation will be cut back and fencing repaired along sections of the Eclipse bus corridor.
As part of a phased introduction, passengers have already begun to see the uniformed Travel Safe Officers out on patrol, providing a reassuring presence at bus stops, interchanges and on-board buses. Later in the autumn, the full team will be in operation helping to deter anti-social behaviour, support passengers and work closely with partner organisations to address safety concerns.
Councillor Steve Forster, Executive Member for Highways and Passenger Transport, said: “Everyone should feel comfortable when travelling by bus, whether for work, education, shopping or visiting friends and family, and we want to ensure that bus travel continues to be a positive experience for passengers across Gosport. The Gosport Travel Safe Partnership is a direct response to what passengers have told us matters most and is designed to help people travel with greater confidence.”
He continued by stating: “Along the Eclipse route, we have improved bus shelters and lighting, while from later this year CCTV will monitor the route around the clock. Passengers will also now see trained Travel Safe Officers patrolling the local bus network. Together, these measures – delivered in partnership with organisations – represent a significant investment in deterring anti-social behaviour.”
The project builds on the success of the Eclipse busway operated by First Bus, which is now the busiest bus route in Hampshire which carries around 1.6 million passenger journeys each year. This route, together with other bus routes in the Gosport area, have benefited from BSIP investment to deliver enhanced bus service frequencies. By combining improved infrastructure, enhanced security measures and visible patrols, the partnership aims to make bus travel an even more attractive option along one of the county’s most important public transport corridors.
Managing Director South and West for First Bus, Doug Claringbold, added: “First Bus South is proud to support the launch of the Gosport Travel Safe Partnership and to continue working alongside Hampshire County Council and other partners including Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary to help make public transport safer and more welcoming for everyone. This initiative demonstrates the strength of our longstanding partnerships and our shared commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour, improving personal safety, and protecting the communities we serve. The introduction of the Travel Safe Officers will provide valuable support for our drivers, customers and local residents, helping to ensure that the Gosport busway and wider Solent network remain safe, accessible and attractive for all.”
PICTURED BY CONNOR STEEL: Bus shelters are to be upgraded in Gosport as part of scheme to improve safety and reduce anti-social behaviour that was announced by Hampshire County Council.
