Council plans to spend £8m upgrading bus shelters

Up to £8m in funding to improve bus stops in Wiltshire has been approved.

Wiltshire Council has signed off spending of between £6m and £8m to improve shelters across the county, to be funded through a government grant.

There are about 800 council-owned bus shelters across the area which the council is intending to upgrade over the next five years, as well as building new shelters.

Councillor Martin Smith, who oversees highways at the council, described buses as a "lifeline" for many in the county and said the investment would allow the council to build "high-quality, accessible bus shelters that meet the needs of local people and encourage greater use of public transport".

It was announced on 5 December that Wiltshire Council would receive £12.6m in government funding over the next three years to help improve the bus network and its infrastructure.

Work on the improvements is set to begin in 2026, with new timetable cases and poles marking stops.

"High-quality, well-designed shelters will offer better protection from the elements, improved seating, and clear travel information, making the experience of waiting for a bus safer and more pleasant," said Mr Smith.

"Encouraging more people to choose public transport is vital for reducing congestion, cutting carbon emissions, and connecting communities – and investing in infrastructure is a key part of that strategy."

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