BOSSES and staff at Ipswich Buses are celebrating after being recognised for running the best bus network in the country!The council-owned company has retained its Charter Mark first awarded three years ago.

By Paul Geater

BOSSES and staff at Ipswich Buses are celebrating after being recognised for running the best bus network in the country!

The council-owned company has retained its Charter Mark first awarded three years ago.

It was given to mark the success of the company's entire network – and is the only operator in the country to have its entire operation recognised with an award.

"Other companies have been given Charter Marks for a specific part of their operation like their customer service department or information offices.

"But we are the only company to be given a Charter Mark for our entire network. We are very pleased about it," said managing director Malcolm Robson.

"Our successful appraisal for the Charter Mark Award recognises the links our Company has developed in the last three years with the local community in delivering high quality local bus services.

"In the last twelve months our Company has invested over £1m in new vehicles and has recently announced orders for a further £650,000 worth of vehicles to arrive during 2002," he said.

The new low-floor double deckers are due to transform services between Whitton and Castle Hill through the town centre to Priory Heath.

They are due to be introduced in the autumn, at the same time as the new town centre one-way system for buses and taxis is introduced.

"The Charter Mark Award rewards the effort and enthusiasm of all staff at Ipswich Buses," Mr Robson added.

The company is one of only 17 council-owned transport firms left in Britain and currently employs 215 people, operates 90 buses and last year carried 7.3 million passengers.

It has bucked the national trend of falling bus passengers by seeing a 0.4 per cent increase over the last 12 months.