THURROCK Council has been awarded nearly £2 million from the Department for Transport to improve bus services across the borough – as a new Sunday service to a Grays diagnostic centre is set to start.

The funding forms part of the Government's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) grant and will be split between capital and revenue projects. The council says the investment will help deliver its refreshed BSIP, adopted in May 2024, and create a "long-term legacy of improved and more attractive bus travel."

Speaking at a cabinet meeting this week, Cllr Victoria Holloway, portfolio holder for place and environment, said: "We've been awarded £1,954,465 to deliver our plan. This follows public engagement and outputs from the enhanced partnership we've set up with five bus operators in Thurrock."

The council is set to introduce a new Sunday service to the Long Lane diagnostic centre, which has faced criticism for poor accessibility since opening. Currently, the centre is served by an hourly bus and has no Sunday service.

Cllr Mark Hooper, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, confirmed the new route will start in January.

He said: "The diagnostic centre is a great facility, but access has been a real issue. From January, there will be an early Sunday service starting before 7am, jointly funded by the Integrated Care Board and the council."

Cllr John Kent, responsible for sustainability and heritage, added: "When the centre was located at Long Lane, many of us argued it wasn't in the best place. This improvement is welcome and shows the importance of linking transport planning with healthcare access."

The BSIP aims to increase bus frequency, improve access to key facilities, and make services commercially sustainable. Thurrock's enhanced partnership with operators was a key requirement for securing the funding.

The council says detailed delivery plans are now in place, with improvements expected to roll out through 2025 and 2026. Public feedback will continue to shape future changes, with ongoing surveys led by Transport Focus.