High hopes for new buses in town’s park and ride scheme

The service will run from Monday to Saturday to ferry shoppers into the town centre from Cressex at regular 15 minute intervals.

Joe Kenneway, who is working for the council to promote the scheme, believes the park and ride will give more freedom to visitors.

He said: "Shoppers will no longer need to worry about getting a parking space in the town centre. There will be 400 free car parking spaces at Cressex, monitored by CCTV. We will also be putting in a passenger waiting facility."

The five buses that will make up the park and ride fleet will depart from Crest Road, opposite the cinema complex in Cressex.

From there the buses will stop at Wycombe Hospital and Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College before skirting the town centre and stopping at Queen Victoria Road, Crendon Street and Oxford Road.

The service will cost £2 for a return ticket, and £1.50 during the off-peak hours of 10am to 4pm.

Buses will run from 7am to 7pm on weekdays and 8am to 6pm on Saturdays.

Although the buses will not benefit from their own bus lanes, an alternative measure has been taken to make the journey as smooth as possible.

Transponders will be fitted to each bus which alert traffic lights when they are approaching.

The traffic lights then respond by giving the bus priority over other traffic.

Mr Kenneway said: "The layout of Wycombe meant it was not possible to put in separate lanes. But the transponders should give some of the same impact."

Shelly Ford, Wycombe's Town Centre Manager, said: "Park and Ride Wycombe was introduced to make it easier for shoppers and those who work in the town centre to get around.

"It's an important measure to encourage people not to bring their car into the town.

"Operating every 15 minutes, the buses are great. They're modern, clean and its a very inexpensive way of travelling to the town centre. I encourage as many people as possible to catch the bus."

For more information: www.wycombeparkandride.com