A long-awaited bus route linking Leigh and Southend Airport is finally set to become a reality, with plans now moving forward to find an operator for the service.
Southend Council’s cabinet gave the green light to the project on Monday night, marking a major step forward in plans that have been over a decade in the making. The new service will run between Leigh, Eastwood, and Southend Airport, providing much-needed transport connections for residents in these areas.
The new route will operate under the names 23A and 23B, with services expected to run every half hour from Monday to Saturday. A limited Sunday service will also be introduced to support weekend travel.
The bus will loop via two key locations — the Launch Pad at the Airport Business Park and the Holiday Inn bus stop at London Southend Airport. This route is designed to improve access for residents in St Laurence, Eastwood Park, Belfairs, Blenheim Park, Leigh, and West Leigh wards, offering vital transport links for commuters, families, and visitors.
The project has been made possible thanks to a substantial £900,000 Government grant. This funding will cover the service’s first two years of operation, after which it is hoped the chosen operator will continue running the route independently.
With approval secured, council officers have been given delegated powers to find a suitable operator. The tendering process is set to begin in March, with the formal registration process with the Traffic Commissioners expected to take over three months. As a result, the earliest possible start date for the service is July 2025.
The introduction of this route has been a long-standing goal for local campaigners and councillors. Paul Collins, councillor for finance, assets, investments, and public transport, was a key figure in pushing the project forward.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Collins said:
“It has been a personal mission for me as an Eastwood resident. We felt too cut off from Leigh and other parts of Southend that we wanted to get to. This is being paid for by a Government grant. This is something we’ve asked the Government for support for and we’ve been awarded this money and for next year as well.
“This will help us make it work. This will help us make it become something the commercial operators should want to take on in two years’ time and run it for themselves. We’ve always said it was a viable service.”
Independent councillor for Belfairs Ward, Stephen Aylen, also hailed the development, describing it as a “complete gamechanger” for the area. He said:
“This will bring every resident in the city within 400 yards of public transport. This route is wanted, needed, everything is in place, and our city will become a more functional place for everybody to live and enjoy.”
Labour councillor for Blenheim Park Ward, Laurie Burton, emphasised the positive impact the route will have on residents’ day-to-day lives:
“There are residents who don’t go out as much as they could because there is no good route for them. They want to go into Leigh, but there is just no bus route for them. It really will make a huge impact, not just to residents in my ward but lots of wards surrounding it.”
Local residents have shared their delight at the announcement.
Anna Nowak, a Leigh resident and mother, said:
“This is wonderful news. My son goes to Fairways School, and we live near the Broadway, which is a 40-45 minute walk each way. When we don’t have a lift to school, it’s a very time-consuming journey.”
Roger Weaver praised the hard work behind the scenes:
“Well done to all who helped make this happen. If it gives more access to the city for residents, it has to be a good thing.”
Stephen Rayner added:
“It looks like a good route. If you want people to give up their cars, you need a lot more buses.”
With the new route set to ease travel across Southend, Leigh, and surrounding areas, residents can look forward to a more connected and accessible city. The council remains optimistic that the service will prove its value and secure a long-term future with a commercial operator.
The search for an operator is set to begin in March, with the service expected to be up and running by summer 2025.
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