By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
Two new bus routes linking residential Townhill Park and Bitterne with the city centre, major employment areas and Southampton General Hospital have been announced.
Stock photo: SCC
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Council leaders said the proposed new services would provide more frequent, reliable and direct connections from Townhill Park and Bitterne.
The routes, which are still subject to final operator sign off and would run twice an hour, are set to be:
Townhill Park, Bitterne, city centre, Upper Shirley (St James Road), University Hospital Southampton
Townhill Park, Bitterne, Woolston, city centre
It is hoped they will be operational from September after close work between the city council and operator Bluestar.
The routes would be supported by local authority bus grant funding from the Department for Transport.
Alex Winning, council leader and Shirley ward councillor, said: “This is really good news for Shirley, Townhill and the city, and a clear example of Labour delivering on our commitment to improve public transport.
“After successfully pushing for the 19a to serve Hill Lane and improve access to the hospital, we’re now building on that progress with another new route through Upper Shirley and two much‑needed routes from Townhill Park.
“They will make it easier for people to get to work, reach hospital appointments without having to change buses, access education, and travel across the city more flexibly.
“I want to thank Bluestar for the genuinely collaborative way we’ve worked together to make this happen.
“By listening to residents and working in partnership with operators, we can deliver practical improvements that make a real difference to everyday life.”
Southampton Itchen MP Darren Paffey said improving bus connections was a priority for residents he had spoken with, especially in the east of the city.
Mr Paffey said: “This new route is another really welcome step in the right direction and will be a real boost for residents and businesses in Bitterne and Woolston, as well as for Townhill Park as the long-awaited regeneration gathers pace.”
Satvir Kaur, MP for Southampton Test, said: “These new bus routes will make a real difference to people’s daily lives, with better connections to jobs, education, and vital services like Southampton General Hospital.
“It’s exactly what residents told me they want and have been asking for – more reliable, more direct, and more frequent services.”
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