Most commuters get on a bus, avoid eye contact and remain silent throughout their journey – rarely sharing a word with their fellow passengers.

But now health officials in Hertfordshire are looking at a "chatty bus" project, to deliberately encourage older people to talk to each other on a bus.

Typically, an official would ride on specific buses to enable those people looking to talk to others to do so.

And on Monday (September 14) councillors heard that it was one of several projects being designed by Hertfordshire County Council with Age UK, as part of its 'Live Longer Better' healthy ageing programme.

Mark Hanna, from Age UK, told a meeting of the public health and community safety cabinet panel it was ultimately about trying to build social connections for older people, who may not have them any more.

And he said it set out to remove the stigma that they may be out in public and not be able to speak to somebody else.

It's a move that has been welcomed by the county council's executive member for public health and community safety, Cllr Ajanta Hilton (Liberal Democrat, St Stephen's).

Following the meeting, Cllr Hilton acknowledged that loneliness is an issue, with more and more people reporting that they can feel isolated.

She says that in a now digital world – with people talking to each other on phones or rushing around. – the pace can feel higher.

And she hopes that the chatty buses – which already operate in other areas of the country – will help those who feel cut off from others.

Officers highlighted the plans for the chatty bus as part of an update on the healthy ageing programmes, which are funded through the Public Health Prevention Investment Programme (PHIP).

The programmes are designed to deliver measurable improvements in the health, wellbeing and inclusion of Hertfordshire's older residents.

And they are particularly focussed on those residents who experience isolation, limited mobility and barriers to participation in the activities of daily living.

Already launched as part of the programme. is the county's community toilet scheme.

Mark Hanna told the meeting that access to toilets had been highlighted as one of the barriers to older people accessing open spaces

And he said several businesses had already signed up to the community toilet scheme, which allows people to use the facilities for free without the expectation of having to pay for anything.

He also highlighted awareness days, such as Age Without Limits in June, around challenging ageism, and activity around the International Day of Older People next month (October).