A council boss has praised ongoing developments to Great Yarmouth's bus network but a passenger lobby group believes more can be done to boost services.

As new stops are being added to Acle New Road in time for the summer, Norfolk County Council's lead for transport Graham Plant said it is "an exciting time for bus travel" in the borough.

However, members of the East Norfolk Transport Users Association (ENTUA) believe the area is being overlooked by Norfolk's Bus Service Improvement Plan.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Acle New Road. Picture - GoogleAcle New Road. Picture - Google (Image: Google)In Great Yarmouth, the bus improvement plan has funded evening enhancements to the First number 8 service, a 25pc discount on weekly, monthly and group fares and a Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant bus stop on Nelson Road North, as well as new stops on Acle New Road.

Mr Plant said the new stops "will support our long term solution to connect the rail station to the town centre all year round with the X1 and X11 service which also connect to nearby Gorleston and Belton".

READ MORE: Great Yarmouth bus network to receive £5m of improvements

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Norfolk County Councillor Graham Plant.Norfolk County Councillor Graham Plant. (Image: Jamie Honeywood)ENTUA's secretary Steve Hewitt said provision is still lacking to the busy Gapton Hall Retail Park and a direct bus service from the rail station to the seafront is needed.

"Great Yarmouth must be one of the only seaside resorts in the country without a direct bus from its train station to the seafront," Mr Hewitt said.

"Even Frinton - with a population of less than 5,000 people - has got one."

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Steve Hewitt (right) with members of ENTUA and Greater Anglia. Picture - Sonya DuncanSteve Hewitt (right) with members of ENTUA and Greater Anglia. Picture - Sonya Duncan (Image: Sonya Duncan)For the past two summers, Acle-based firm Our Hire ran a summer bus service - the 100 - from the rail station to the seafront, sponsored by the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership. 

But it is unconfirmed whether the service will be returning this year.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Our Hire ran a summer bus service from Yarmouth train station to the seafront in 2022 and 2023.Our Hire ran a summer bus service from Yarmouth train station to the seafront in 2022 and 2023. (Image: Newsquest)Mr Hewitt added ENTUA was assured a new Gapton Retail Park service would be considered once the Herring Bridge was open.

"But we've yet to hear anything on the matter," he added.

"And as it currently stands, for people without a car, getting to the shops at Gapton remains virtually inaccessible. It is far easier for people who rely on public transport to take the bus to Norwich just to shop at M&S.

"It feels like a kick in the teeth."

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Evening enhancements have been added to the First number 8. Picture - James WeedsEvening enhancements have been added to the First number 8. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)