The council is pleased to announce that a bus route between the City Centre and Garon Park is to be restored. Thanks to the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and BSIP Phase 2 funding.
The funding awarded by the Department for Transport, means that the 6 route, operated by Arriva, can now be extended to terminate at Garon Park, making it easier for residents and visitors to visit the leisure centre and other facilities there. The route currently starts and finished at Cokefield Avenue, next to McDonald's and south of the roundabout on the busy A127.
As part of this initiative, bus services to Garon Park will resume on Sunday 28 July 2024. Buses will operate every half-hour throughout the day, providing a convenient link from the City centre to Southend Leisure Centre and the extensive facilities at Garon Park. Additionally, the BSIP Phase 2 funding is enabling the Council to improve bus services in several areas across the City, including some increased evening bus services.
Councillor Paul Collins, cabinet member for finance, assets, and investments, said: "As a council we are committed to enhancing bus services in Southend-on-Sea. Thanks to BSIP Phase 2 funding, we are able to extend and restore services to previously unserved areas and enhance services across the City.
"The restoration of bus services to Garon Park demonstrates our dedication to connecting communities and promoting well-being; it also incorporates our City's vision for better connectivity, improved service coordination, and increased accessibility."