A bid for Government funding for a high-speed bus system will be submitted to the Department for Transport today.

The £19.5 million grant would finance the start-up and operating costs of a new, limited-stop rapid transport scheme in Brighton and Hove.

A fast, reliable service along the seafront would connect with conventional buses and trains as well as popular destinations in the city.

The likely route of the system would link the city centre to Brighton Marina in the east and the King Alfred in Hove in the west, as well as a possible park-and-ride site in the north.

One proposed route would provide a direct service to American Express and the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, who chairs Brighton and Hove City Council's environment committee, said: "Rapid transport will help us provide a sustainable transport network for the city.

"It will encourage less car journeys, give people increased travel choice and help us fight congestion and pollution."

The council wants the system to use hybrid electric vehicles, which would be highly fuel efficient and produce low emissions.

If the bid is successful, the funding would provide half of the capital costs of the project. The rest would be borrowed by the council.

A further £4 million is being sought from the Government to finance a potential park-and-ride site.

A decision will not be made on the location of the site until December but council officers are keen to secure the funding.

Coun Mitchell said: "Any future park-and-ride site could be linked into the system to provide swift journeys into the city centre."

Friday, July 29 2005