PUBLIC ANGER AT BUS SERVICE CUTS (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

PUBLIC ANGER AT BUS SERVICE CUTS

June 18, 2008 12:01 AM

First Bus has done away with the 305 service that ran a route from Linthwaite into the heart of Milnsbridge.

Residents of Linthwaite and Milnsbridge have attended two public meetings this week on mass to express anger at the scrapping of a local bus service.

First Bus has done away with the 305 service that ran a route from Linthwaite into the heart of Milnsbridge. This means that residents living around the Heights, Blackmoorfoot, Upper Clough and Cowslerley no longer have a direct way of getting to the shops, doctors, opticians, post offices and banks in Milnsbridge village centre.

The meetings have been organised by Cllr Nicola Turner (Lib Dem, Colne Valley Ward).

They took place on Monday 16th June at 6pm at Linthwaite Methodist Church and on Tuesday 17th June at 6pm at Milnsbridge Baptist Church. A representative from First Buses was in attendance. The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority refused to attend saying that the matter was not under their remit.

Cllr Turner says:

"The changes that have been introduced by First have really angered local people. Residents relied on this bus to get to the shops, to attend the doctors and to access other key serviced in Milnsbridge. The only service they are left with now strands them on Manchester Road and forces them to walk down a steep hill into the village centre. There was no consultation and First clearly hasn't given a second thought to how this would affect the elderly, parents with young children and those with limited mobility."

"This is just further evident of what an absolute state the whole public transport system is in. We've got petrol prices steadily rising on one side, the government telling us to get out of our cars on the other and the bus companies cutting back services because each route has to be profitable in its own right. The current arrangements for running the buses are clearly not working and changes need to be made. Local people deserve a reliable and comprehensive service that meets their needs".