THE WEST Midlands is set to receive £100 million of Government funding to boost bus services across the region.

It is part of the government’s £1 billion scheme, making extra funding available to every region in England, especially targeting “areas which have been historically underserved”.

The government have said the investment “represents a record level of recent investment for bus improvements for the majority of areas, alongside once-in-a-generation reform to deliver London-style bus services to every corner of the country.”

Transport Secretary, Louise Hauge, said: “The value of regular and reliable bus services cannot be understated.   

“For far too long, the West Midlands has been suffering from unreliable services with buses hugely delayed, or not even turning up at all.    

“This funding kickstarts the bus revolution to bring an end to the postcode lottery of bus services, drive economic growth and make sure people have proper access to jobs and opportunities.  

“We’ve already committed over £150million to extend the bus fare cap and keep fares low and this nearly £1billion of further funding will mean local routes are protected, reliability is improved and the passenger is put first.” 

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has been allocated almost half of the West Midlands’s share of the funding, with £49.9 million being made available to the 18 local authorities it represents.

These include Birmingham City Council, Wolverhampton Council, Coventry City Council, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council.

The other half of the funding is being split between Herefordshire Council, Shropshire Council, Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-On-Trent City Council, Telford and Wrekin Council, Warwickshire County Council and Worcestershire County Council.

The government has said it is setting out to “end the bus postcode lottery” and “empower local councils to take back control of services” through the additional funding.