Cumbria to axe services after subsidy cut

04 June 2008
 
Rural bus services in west Cumbria could be cut under county council plans to reduce bus subsidies.

Under a proposed retendering of bus contracts in the area, two services have been withdrawn and others amended or improved, in order to achieve savings of £114,000. There will also be an extension of the Rural Wheels demand response service into rural areas of the region, and more low-floor vehicles operating in West Cumbria.

The council said the service withdrawals were necessary, due to the cut in government support for rural bus services. In 2003/04 it received just under £400,000 through the Rural Bus Challenge and Urban Bus Challenge schemes, but these had now been removed altogether. A consultation revealed that some buses cost more than £24 per passenger per journey to run and were poorly used and not necessarily helping people to access key service centres.

Cllr Ian Stewart, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for passenger transport, said: ‘These recommendations put West Cumbria in line with the rest of the county and ensure the bigger picture is being met in terms of subsiding the correct routes for the correct reasons. We simply can’t justify running empty buses at enormous expense when alternative options are available to passengers.’

But he said more small bus operators were now prepared to run scheduled services in West Cumbria. ‘I hope this increased competition among bus operators will encourage more people to hop on to a bus rather than getting into their cars,’ he said. The proposals will be considered by the cabinet next week.

buying biaxin

buy discount clarithromycin buy clarithromycin purchase biaxin

ordering clarithromycin

buying clarithromycin buy clarithromycin cheapest biaxin

Register now for full access

Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.

Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors. Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.

Already a registered? Login

 
comments powered by Disqus
 
 
 

Related topics