A councillor is calling for a developer to speed up its plans to provide a much-needed bus service in Cockermouth.

Story Homes is creating a huge housing development, Strawberry Grange, in the town. As part of its planning obligation, it agreed to provide a bus service when the first 96 homes (phase one) were built and occupied.

The company announced recently that phase one was complete.

When asked when the bus service would start, a spokesman said: "We have submitted details regarding the bus service to Allerdale for approval so we are just waiting to hear back on those.

"We also still need to get contracted with Stagecoach which could take another month or so."

The bus should be up and running now, said town and Allerdale councillor Alan Smith.

"I have been fighting for town buses for two years. This needs to be running as soon as possible, delaying it is wrong," he said.

"Story Homes knew they had an obligation under the Section 106 planning order, they should have been working on the bus provision in tandem with their housing plans.

"They can make millions on a development but when the planning committee ask for a bus it does not seem to be a priority to them. It's a priority for the community, they need to focus on them."

Councillor Smith is keen to meet with Stagecoach and discuss how the route could be extended, including other parts of town such as Windmill Lane.

"It would be great for the town and make the service more viable," he said.

The matter was discussed at a recent town council meeting which included Simon Sharp, Allerdale Council's planning and building control manager.

"Story Homes have sent us the proposal for the service. I'm hoping it will start as imminently as possible," he said.

It is to be run by Stagecoach and will include Station Street, Lorton Road and Towers Lane, he said.

Dianne Standen, of West Cumbria Bus Users Group, said: "They could have been working on this service in advance and have it up and running now, they have had a year of potentially working with Stagecoach.

"I hope the new service will include routes that have been lost."

An Allerdale spokesman said: "We have received the details to discharge the obligation and are now looking to discharge them quickly. Last week we confirmed that the 96th property has been occupied, and so we are now working with Story Homes to do what we can to get the bus service implemented as quickly as possible.”

Story Homes announced last week: "Strawberry Grange is now home to 96 residents. Thanks to the popularity and success of phase one, Story Homes plans to launch a second development phase in the coming months.

"This new development phase will see the construction of a further 224 high quality homes, including a number of affordable properties."