Improve Bus Infrastructure - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh On Sea News: Improve Bus Infrastructure – GREEN campaigner Simon Gius is urging Southend City Council to improve Leigh’s bus infrastructure, pressing for betterer stops, clearer signage, and electric buses.

Leigh On Sea News: Improve Bus Infrastructure - GREEN campaigner Simon Gius is urging Southend City Council to improve Leigh’s bus infrastructure, pressing for betterer stops, clearer signage, and electric buses.

GREEN campaigner Simon Gius is urging Southend City Council to improve Leigh’s bus infrastructure, pressing for betterer stops, clearer signage, and electric buses.

At next the Full Council meeting, on the 20th February, he will ask how £1.8 million in capital investment will be used to enhance public transport. With bus fare caps rising, The Greens argue that at the very least, essential upgrades, like London-style signage, should be implemented to make buses a more viable travel option.

Mr Gius, a Leigh resident, is pressing the Council to make urgent improvements to the town’s bus infrastructure, arguing that better public transport is essential to easing congestion and cutting emissions.

At the upcoming Full Council meeting, Mr Gius plans to challenge the portfolio holder, Coun Paul Collins, demanding clarity on how a £1.8 million capital investment will be spent.

Mr Gius said: “If we’re going to reduce the strain on our at-capacity infrastructure, we need to be encouraging people to use the bus more.

“Right now, buses are competing against each other, shelters are in disrepair, and signage is often non-existent, making it incredibly difficult for people to even know where the routes run.”

Mr Gius is calling for what he describes as “London-style” bus stop signage, with clearly

marked routes, journey times, and maps – an upgrade he argues is long overdue.

Coun Richard Longsta, Green Party Councillor for Leigh Ward, agreed: “In so many cities around Europe people rely on the bus to get around, instead of using their cars.

“It’s about time we change the narrative here in Southend and make buses accessible to as many

people as possible, so that anyone and everyone can rely on our bus services.”

Mr Gius’ push comes amid recent fare hikes by the Labour-led government, a move that has drawn criticism from the Green Party. With rising costs making public transport less attractive. The Greens say they are hoping that, at the very least, basic infrastructure improvements can be fast-tracked.

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