West Sussex County Council is inviting passengers to share their views on proposals to introduce a new subsidised bus service for Chichester city centre.
Under the proposals, the existing 46/47 service from Parklands and the 50 service from Graylingwell would be combined into one higher frequency bus route into Chichester city centre. The new service would also be extended to Minerva Heights, providing improved connections for new residential communities in the west of Chichester and Graylingwell.
The initiative, partly funded by the development at Minerva Heights, aims to ensure bus services remain sustainable in the longer term while meeting the evolving travel needs of local communities.
For most passengers, the proposed changes would deliver a more reliable and accessible service, with benefits including:
- Increased frequency to every 30 minutes
- New weekend and evening journeys
- Reinstated links to bus and railway stations
- Improved access to Chichester market and Southgate
- Better connection between student accommodation and the University campus
- Larger vehicles with more space for buggies and mobility needs
However, to achieve these improvements to the overall service some changes need to be made that for some passengers, particularly in Parklands, would mean a reduced frequency and/or increased walking distance to alternative stops.
Cllr Joy Dennis, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at West Sussex County Council, said: “While most residents would see an improved service, we appreciate that these changes may have a negative impact on a limited number of passengers. We value people’s feedback which is why we have launched this consultation before making any decisions as we want to ensure any changes made have maximum benefit and minimum disruption.
“Streamlining these bus services will not only provide a more efficient service but is also in line with our Council Plan priority of making best use of our resources.”
The county council and operator of the 46/47 and 50 routes, Stagecoach, have teamed up to run a ‘bus surgery’ for the route on Wednesday 10 December, from 10am to 12pm in Parklands, Chichester. Staff will be on hand to explain the plans and answer any questions from passengers or local residents.
For more information on the proposed changes and to complete the consultation please visit yourvoice.westsussex.gov.uk/chichesterbus and submit your feedback by Monday 22 December 2025.
