On 30 September 2026, transport representatives, local councillors, and operators gathered at New County Hall in Truro for the Cornwall Bus Conference. It was a key opportunity to look at where public transport in our county stands today – celebrating recent progress while having an honest conversation about the serious challenges that remain across Cornwall.
For those of us advocating for better links in Bude, the conference brought an important and welcome acknowledgment. Cornwall Council explicitly highlighted Bude as one of the most challenging areas in the entire county to connect. As a remote, rural, and coastal community, getting our town properly linked to the wider network remains a difficult hurdle, even with significant subsidies already in place.
While alternative bus delivery models are currently being explored across Cornwall with the help of government funding, the council recognised that much more needs to be done for North Cornwall. To truly serve our community, we need frequent, dependable bus services that do more than just get us around locally. That means building strong cross-border connections so residents can reach nearby rail hubs, as well as securing direct, reliable transport to essential healthcare facilities like hospitals in North Devon and Exeter.
Chaired by Council Leader Cllr Leigh Frost and Transport Portfolio Holder Cllr Dan Rogerson, the event brought together key figures from across the transport sector, including Go Cornwall Bus, OTS, Stagecoach, and Great Western Railway. Having Bude’s unique geographical isolation formally recognized by these decision-makers is a vital step forward. It may be a “work in progress,” but Connect Bude will keep pushing to ensure these discussions turn into real, lasting improvements for our town.
Thank you to Adrian Gannon for his attendance and the update.
