A COUNCILLOR is calling for a bus route covering Harwich’s Low Road to be reinstated after nearly £18million has been given to Essex to improve transport.

The Government this week revealed Essex will receive £17,802,280 in “fair funding” to ensure better transport services into 2026 alongside other historically underfunded regions including Norfolk at £15million and Kent at £23 million.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said the East of England had been “suffering” from unreliable services.

Franchising - Councillor Ivan Henderson supported the model of London-style franchising for buses in Essex where the council determines routes and faresFranchising - Councillor Ivan Henderson supported the model of London-style franchising for buses in Essex where the council determines routes and fares (Image: Maria Fowler) Labour Councillor Ivan Henderson said the funding was “really good news”, but raised in a county council cabinet meeting this week the issue of the removal of the 103 First Bus to Low Road.

Mr Henderson said: “The service now doesn’t call along Low Road, meaning elderly residents are expected to walk all the way to the bus stop outside of Harwich hospital - it’s ridiculous.

“Round here there are a lot of elderly people in the area, a lot of bungalows, we also have the caravan park for visitors to come.

“I would hope Essex would look at where some of their past bus services have been withdrawn and look to see where certain section of our residents have been left isolated have been left isolated over that time.

“There’s cherry picking of bus services as they will look to where they can make money but not where people need to go to.”

Mr Henderson also said people cannot travel between Harwich and Clacton for their social lives as there are not enough late buses.

A spokesman for Essex County said they welcome the Government’s £17.8million investment in bus services in 2025 to 2026 and that they look forward to receiving more details to assess what routes and areas will benefit the most.

The spokesman added: “This funding helps us provide assurance to residents that bus services in the county will continue to improve.

“We already have a 10-year partnership with Clear Channel UK to upgrade bus shelters across Essex and have secured government funding to invest in 55 electric buses in Basildon.

“We also invest £11 million a year in services which would not otherwise run commercially, including our demand responsive DigiGo service in Braintree and Uttlesford."