PUBLIC transport around Marlow looks set for a double boost with the launch of a new bus service and a probe into providing additional travel options.

The 160 community bus, which currently runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between Marlow, Little Marlow and Marlow Bottom, will also be running on Saturdays in a year-long trial.

Meanwhile, a group of councillors are imploring residents to give their views on creating a new community transport scheme in the area.

The Saturday bus service has come about with funding received by Marlow Town Council, Marlow Bottom and Little Marlow Parish Councils from the Bucks County Council Local Area Forum.

The service is operated by Red Eagle Buses under contract to Transport for Buckinghamshire.

Marlow Mayor Suzanne Brown said: "We’re hoping that users of the bus, current and new, will make good use of the Saturday service. It should appeal to people who work during the week, to families based locally, and we also hope that youngsters will use the bus to enable them to participate fully in the many activities provided for them on a Saturday."

The South West Chilterns & Marlow Local Area Forum is carrying out a survey of transport needs.

In a letter to residents the group said: "We hope to find out how you travel to the places you need to get to; and if there is a need for some form of community transport provision to help you access services and amenities and get to where you need to go."

Such schemes are run on a not-for-profit basis, or as a social enterprise, often involving volunteers to manage and deliver the service. The forum said community transport is regarded as "an effective, flexible, small scale solution for meeting the travel needs of specific individuals and local groups".

The questionnaire attempts to find out residents' travel habits, if they have limited mobility and what they think is needed. It asks whether residents' quality of life is affected by the cost of travel, what their most common destinations are and if what they currently use is readily available or not.

To give your opinions and take part in the survey contact Madeleine Howe, Localities & Communities Manager at Wycombe District Council.

Call 01494 475378