Suffolk to receive £9m government funding boost for bus services

The big picture: The funding is part of a £955m national investment in bus services across England, aimed at improving reliability and protecting at-risk routes.

Why it matters: The investment will:

• Support popular bus routes across Suffolk

• Help protect rural services

• Aim to improve punctuality

• Work to increase bus use for shopping, socialising and commuting

Details: The funding changes include:

• A reformed allocation system based on local needs

• Removal of competitive bidding for funding

• New powers for communities regarding bus franchising and public ownership

• Planned introduction of a new Buses Bill to Parliament

What they're saying: Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich, welcomed the announcement: "I am delighted that the Transport Secretary has confirmed £9 million of new bus funding across Suffolk," calling it "the biggest overhaul to the country’s bus services in a generation."

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: "We're providing over £1bn of funding to keep fares down, protect local routes and deliver more reliable services."

The bottom line: The government says the funding aims to ensure people have proper access to jobs and opportunities through improved public transport connections.