Campaign to keep Blackburn bus services

3:00pm Saturday 15th September 2012 in News

A CAMPAIGN to keep bus services through Audrey and Queens Park has been taken to the Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Ward representative Salim Sidat said he was furious at Transdev’s decision to axe the 17 and 18 routes this weekend because of lack of passengers leaving local pensioners and young families in the lurch.

Now he and local residents are urging the borough to save the services either by persuading Transdev to reconsider, encourage other firms to take over the services, or find a subsidy to keep the buses.

Coun Sidat, who represents Audley, said he had the full backing of local pensioners.

Rita Smith, aged 79, said: “I think it’s a disgrace. How are old and infirm people like me and my husband supposed to get down to the town to do our shopping or get to the doctors?”

Joyce Binns, aged 75, said: “This decision is appalling and wrong. There are a lot of elderly people use these buses. How are old and disabled people supposed to get into town without any buses?”

Coun Sidat said: “This is an absolute disgrace. The cancellation all boils down to money.

“Transdev claim no one uses the bus in the Audley Area but I know several ladies who use the bus service regularly to get in to town and the new health centre.

“The council is preparing to build a brand new bus station yet Transdev are cancelling bus service in certain areas. The company is adamant that they will not replace the bus service nor look at a different route.

“I am meeting the council leadership and other bus operators to see if they would consider a new bus service for the people of the Audley and Queens Park. I am asking them to look a subsidising the service in the hope we can keep the buses in the area after Monday.

“I wonder how can we encourage the new generation to use the bus when they are going to grow up without a service. With winter approaching I dread to think how the young generation will get to college and how the old will go into town”

Transdev marketing director Nigel Eggleton said: “The reason we have discontinued the service is that there are just not enough passengers using the buses. It is up to the local council if they want to find the money to keep it.”

Comments (9)

3:11pm Sat 15 Sep 12

mrdd186 says...

hut
hut mrdd186

3:15pm Sat 15 Sep 12

mrdd186 says...

Coun Sidat said " I wonder how can we encourage the new generation to use the bus when they are going to grow up without a service. With winter approaching I dread to think how the young generation will get to college and how the old will go into town” Well i feel sorry for the oaps but the young ones can walk to college lazy sods.
Coun Sidat said " I wonder how can we encourage the new generation to use the bus when they are going to grow up without a service. With winter approaching I dread to think how the young generation will get to college and how the old will go into town” Well i feel sorry for the oaps but the young ones can walk to college lazy sods. mrdd186

3:50pm Sat 15 Sep 12

Bibbletang says...

Do the bus companies get any money from an OAP's free bus pass, maybe this is the problem, not enough paying customers. There are always people waiting to get the bus from town up to Audley but if they have bus passes then there may be no profit in it for the bus company.
Do the bus companies get any money from an OAP's free bus pass, maybe this is the problem, not enough paying customers. There are always people waiting to get the bus from town up to Audley but if they have bus passes then there may be no profit in it for the bus company. Bibbletang

4:12pm Sat 15 Sep 12

Scooby says...

Poor Audrey.. That's got too hurt!
Poor Audrey.. That's got too hurt! Scooby

4:52pm Sat 15 Sep 12

Rimbus says...

Scooby wrote:
Poor Audrey.. That's got too hurt!
I think she's a mate of Olwen's.
[quote][p][bold]Scooby[/bold] wrote: Poor Audrey.. That's got too hurt![/p][/quote]I think she's a mate of Olwen's. Rimbus

4:58pm Sat 15 Sep 12

Rimbus says...

Rather than axe the services, why not re-route the 17 & 18 through Shadsworth where they can fill up with Olwen and her mates on their regular trips to town for their interviews at the job centre. Simples!
Rather than axe the services, why not re-route the 17 & 18 through Shadsworth where they can fill up with Olwen and her mates on their regular trips to town for their interviews at the job centre. Simples! Rimbus

9:28pm Sat 15 Sep 12

lwg76 says...

Must keep the buses, gotta justify the bus lanes and camera car.
Must keep the buses, gotta justify the bus lanes and camera car. lwg76

8:02pm Sun 16 Sep 12

Juan Hunose says...

Nigel Eggleton said: “The reason we have discontinued the service is that there are just not enough passengers using the buses. It is up to the local council if they want to find the money to keep it.”

Bus companies are not charities. No passengers...no fares...no bus services. Simples!
Nigel Eggleton said: “The reason we have discontinued the service is that there are just not enough passengers using the buses. It is up to the local council if they want to find the money to keep it.” Bus companies are not charities. No passengers...no fares...no bus services. Simples! Juan Hunose

11:33pm Sun 16 Sep 12

2 for 5p says...

Quote

lack of passengers leaving local pensioners and young families in the lurch.

Pensioners OK young family's why not try waking its not that fa a distance.
as for funding just put the price up that would do it.
Quote lack of passengers leaving local pensioners and young families in the lurch. Pensioners OK young family's why not try waking its not that fa a distance. as for funding just put the price up that would do it. 2 for 5p

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