ONE of Cornwall coastal towns could be set for a rejuvenated public transport scheme as a new service pilot is introduced for the summer season.

A new ‘Park and Ride’ service will be piloted in Bude this summer, helping to ease congestion during the busy holiday season.

This project is funded by Defra as part of the £200-million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes, which is managed by the Environment Agency. It is delivered locally through the Future Coast Bude project.

The pilot scheme will run daily from Saturday, July 19, to Saturday, August 30, offering free parking and a regular shuttle service which has been designed to take the pressure off beachside car parks and town centre roads. The trial service is open to visitors and locals alike, aiming to support a more relaxed, low-stress experience for everyone coming into Bude over the summer.

Free parking will be available in a field situated between Bude Business Park and the A39, with vehicle access directly from the A39. People will be signposted along a grass footpath running through the field, which leads to a layby on the northbound carriageway where Park and Ride buses will collect passengers.

Helen Nicholson, programme manager for Future Coast Bude has expressed her pleasure at the opportunity to offer the service and says she hopes it will reduce the pressure on local roads.

She said: “We’re really pleased to be offering this trial service over the summer holidays. We know how busy Bude gets during peak season, and we’re hoping this scheme will offer a stress-free way to reach the town centre and beaches, while reducing pressure on local roads and car parks.”

Buses are set to run every 15 minutes between 9.30am and 7pm, travelling in a circular route: from the A39 layby into town via Stratton Road, stopping at The Strand, then returning via King’s Hill. From The Strand, it is roughly a five-minute walk to Summerleaze beach and around 15 minutes to Crooklets.

Return fares are just £2 per adult, £1 per child or £6 for a family ticket (up to two adults and four children). Dogs are welcome, and beach gear can be brought on board (though large surfboards are not permitted). Please note that cars are parked at owners’ risk, and concessionary passes are not valid due to the already subsidised fare. The pilot responds directly to feedback gathered during the Bude Town Vision consultation, where a Park and Ride scheme was identified as a priority to help manage peak-season demand. Data collected during the trial will inform whether a second pilot could be run in summer 2026.

Future Coast Bude is part of the £200-million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes, managed by the Environment Agency and funded by Defra. The programme supports communities in adapting to a changing climate. Bude is one of several areas across the country trialling innovative approaches to coastal resilience under the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP).