Plans for a fresh bus service offering better connections to the centre of Chichester have been unveiled.

West Sussex County Council announced the new service will link Parklands and East Broyle with the city centre.

The introduction follows the council’s revisions to its city transport strategy, which incorporated responses gathered during a public consultation.

The service will operate six times daily between 9.30am and 2.30pm, with a focus on supporting those with mobility issues.

Passengers will be able to travel directly from Worcester Road, Little Breach, Cedar Drive and Oliver Whitby Road into the city centre.

The updated proposals also include increasing the frequency of routes 50 and 46/47 to every 30 minutes, doubling how often they currently run.

Cllr Jeremy Hunt, who oversees finance and property at the council, expressed his pleasure that the modifications would assist residents who depend on buses for necessary journeys.

He stated that recent extra government funding for the Bus Service Improvement Plan was allowing the council to support more bus services than had been possible before. He encouraged residents to use their local bus services to help maintain them for the future.

The council will now seek bids from operators for these routes, with a target of introducing the new timetable later this year.

Cllr Joy Dennis, cabinet member for highways and transport, commented that the changes built upon the previous proposals, preserved vital connections for residents requiring regular and accessible travel options, and enhanced links for the expanding community in Minerva Heights.

Some upgrades to current routes are being financed through contributions from the developers building Minerva Heights.

All modifications are set to begin simultaneously to prevent confusion among passengers.

The council initially began its consultation on these proposals last December.