Release date: 14 August 2026
Passengers travelling along Stagecoach's Service 500 route between Littlehampton and Chichester are benefiting from over £166,000 investment in new bus shelters, funded through West Sussex County Council’s Bus Service Improvement Programme.
The new shelters have been installed through a partnership between the County Council, Barnham and Eastergate Parish Council, Aldingbourne Parish Council, Oving Parish Council, Yapton Parish Council and Stagecoach South.
The pilot project brought together local knowledge and transport expertise to identify suitable locations for the shelters.
Councillor Erika Woodhurst-Trueman, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “The new shelters along the 500 route are a welcome improvement that will make a real difference to people who use the bus. They provide a more comfortable place to wait and help make bus travel a more attractive and convenient choice for local journeys.
“This scheme is part of our wider ambition to create a better bus network across the county. By investing in better infrastructure such as these shelters and by working collaboratively with our partners in combining our expertise and resources, we can deliver meaningful improvements that directly benefit the communities we serve.”
Nina-Maria McMaster, Assistant Clerk for Barnham and Eastergate Parish Council, said: "The residents of Barnham and Eastergate and the other parishes who have received new bus shelters are absolutely delighted. The shelters have made such a difference already providing cover from the summer sun. The winter will be so much more comfortable for so many.
“This investment in well-designed shelters, will encourage greater bus use, deliver public value, support inclusive mobility, and help meet our climate goals."
The locations for the new bus shelters were selected following discussions with local parish councils, supported by advice from the county council and Stagecoach on safety and suitability. The parish councils will continue to maintain the shelters into the future.
The new bus shelters can be found at the following stops:
- Eastergate Medical Centre
- Fontwell Roundabout East and West
- Western Road, Oving
- Longacres Way, Oving
- Peckham Chase
- War Memorial
- Yapton (Co-Op)
- Yapton Village Hall
Marc Reddy, Managing Director of Stagecoach South, said: “Service 500 is an important link for communities across Chichester, Shopwhyke, Tangmere, Fontwell, Barnham, Yapton and Littlehampton, connecting villages and housing developments with shopping and leisure areas, St Richard’s Hospital and rail services in Barnham. Having carried more than one million customers, the route plays a vital role in connecting people to the places and services that matter to them.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with West Sussex County Council and local partners to deliver these new bus shelters, supported through Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding. These improvements are a great example of what can be achieved through collaborative working, and will help make bus travel more comfortable and accessible for our customers. With services running up to every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sundays, the 500 provides a frequent and important connection for communities across the route.”
The Service 500 route, which includes stops in Tangmere, Yapton, Barnham, and Shopwhyke, is the first area to benefit from this new model of partnership support. Further routes and funding are being explored for similar enhancements.
For more information on bus travel, including improvements to the county’s bus network visit https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/BusIt
