People in North Tyneside have until Tuesday, 24th August to comment on Nexus proposals to improve local bus links in the borough.
More than 1,500 local residents have already taken part in the consultation and Nexus is urging anyone who has not given their views not to miss the chance.
The Nexus proposals include better links to GP surgeries and the Freeman and North Tyneside General Hospitals, as well as employment sites at Cobalt and Balliol, and Tyne Metropolitan College.
Links to shopping areas have also been improved and there are new local community services in places including Whitley Bay, Wallsend, Killingworth and North Shields.
Tobyn Hughes, Director of Strategy for Nexus, said: “People we have spoken to so far understand that Nexus is trying to improve local links in North Tyneside.
“The response to our proposals has been very positive, but the more people we hear from the better we can shape bus services we provide to meet local needs.”
The full proposals can be found online at www.nexus.org.uk/busstrategy where there is also a feedback form for you to fill in.
Once the views of local people have been considered and final changes made to the proposals as a result Nexus plans to launch the new local links in spring 2011.
The Accessible Network Design (Local Bus Links) Consultation covers those bus routes which Nexus pays for using local authority funding – around 10% of the whole network. Other routes are operated by commercial companies such as Arriva and Go North East, and the proposals are designed to fit around these.
Nexus has designed changes it can provide using existing funding, by focussing its spending more cost-effectively and withdrawing the LinkUp demand responsive service in favour of fixed bus routes.
If the consultation with local people demonstrates a need for further changes or new services Nexus hopes to be able to pay for these by working in different ways with bus operators or seeking new funding routes.
Similar consultations took place in other parts of Tyne and Wear earlier this year.