Weather
Two East Lancashire summer seaside bus services to be axed (From Lancashire Telegraph)
When news happens, text LT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
REGISTER NOW TO POST YOUR COMMENTS ON THESE STORIES
It's free and only takes a few seconds. Click here to go to the registration page.
Two East Lancashire summer seaside bus services to be axed
9:10pm Wednesday 17th February 2010
-
- By Tom Moseley » Local government reporter
TWO popular summer seaside bus services have been scrapped after 15 years because of a funding cut.
The daily coaches, which were almost full on sunny days, went to Blackpool and Fleetwood from East Lancashire and were set to begin next month in time for Easter.
Passengers now face a three-hour trip, one hour longer than the old service, changing at Preston using local buses.
The services were the X4, from Barnoldswick, Colne, Nelson, Burnley, Padiham and Whalley and the X64, from Oswaldtwistle and Accrington.
But they are no longer covered by the government’s free bus pass scheme for pensioners.
Last year Hyndburn Council stepped in and funded the X64, while the X4 ran a reduced service.
Lancashire United marketing director, Nigel Eggleton, said the decision made by the bus company was 'a great shame'.
He said: “The two routes were quite popular. They gave people a convenient day out at the seaside without a car.
"However, last year, without the reimbursement from the concessionary fares scheme, the number of passengers travelling dropped and the routes no longer cover even their basic costs.
“It’s a great shame and we’ve delayed ending the service as long as possible in the hope that a solution could be found."
Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said the bus firm was 'not prepared to renew the scheme with them'.
He said: "We will be looking into alternatives to keep a service for older people, and I urge anyone who has a bus or coach firm willing to do these journeys to get in touch with me.”
More News stories
- Blackburn man dies after suspected attack
- Church man stabbed in 'murder attempt'
- Devastation as cancer spreads to Maddi's bones
- Tony Blair: I was 'plain stupid' to axe Jack Straw
- Blackburn Rovers bidder's firm IS suspended
- Hyndburn pubs blamed for dumping waste
- Ribchester chef: TV debut was just for starters
- What's on: 1940s Day in Darwen
- Darwen Academy era about to dawn
- Blackburn teenager running her own hair salon
Your Say YourTelegraph
Kevin, Colne, Colne says...
7:55am Thu 18 Feb 10
A great deal of his policy initiatives seem to be: act first, think later. The aim, always, is to 'Grab a good headline', then think about it , and then 'pass the buck' as quickly as possible to someone else.
This is no way to run a country. We face a crisis in how to adequately fund public services in a nation where the ratio between those working and those not working and retired has gone from one that works to one that might not work.
Pay-as-you-go welfare schemes are pure-Ponzi. Some say that the cupboard is bare. I'm sorry but that's wrong: there's simply no cupboard. Period.
A lot of dreams have already been shattered and there is more adjustment to come as folks face the reality that promises have been made that cannot now be honoured.
The message is clear: put your faith in politicians if you want to, but you do so at your peril!
samspence, BLACKBURN says...
9:06am Thu 18 Feb 10
frank, great harwood says...
6:25pm Thu 18 Feb 10
every one of these buses i saw was full by the time it reached great harwood, what happened there did everyone get off?
Burnley student, Burnley says...
11:23pm Thu 18 Feb 10
This scheme was aimed at providing free transport for elderly people to gain travel to local resources such as doctors, shops and friends in town etc.
Why should the general public be paying for summer jollies to the sea side for elderly people??
For too long this scheme has been misused by those it's meant to help, the rest of the population is now missing out and I think this scheme should not be for inter town travel at all and at limited times during the working week.
The tension on the buses is unfair on the thousands of school kids being pulled down by the burden of this expensive and unreasonable scheme, prices are rising as is our national debt and when cuts need to be made then these are the ones that should go!
DaveBurnley, Burnley says...
8:33am Fri 19 Feb 10
RAyzer, BURNLEY says...
2:03pm Fri 19 Feb 10
Burnley student, Burnley says...
6:34pm Fri 19 Feb 10
The bus company at present only gets 55p refunded for every £1 spent on this scheme, It simply can't carry on as the population gets older and older.
There are over 10million people eligible for OAP benefits and by the time I'm in my mid 30's it's expected to be nearly 15million, why should I have to face that burden when I expect to be working until I'm 70?
ROBERTSLUMDWELLER, NELSON says...
12:33pm Sat 20 Feb 10
Burnley student, Burnley says...
4:30pm Sat 20 Feb 10
Yes I know the hard working adults of the last few years have paid taxes which in turn has paid for my education, however my argument is focussed on the fact that as our population ages we will need more and more money to pay for the OAP 'benefits system' and already we've proven to ourselves we can't fund such a generous welfare state, why should the younger generations face the burden?
I'd propose limiting the 'free bus pas' to local towns only and only at certain times of day.
I'm not particularly defending the government but I do think the scheme has been misused and it's a shame services are being cut as a result of it, when on a bus earlier today of the 14 people who got on after me only 2 actually paid, the bus company can't make that kind of loss!
In terms of being 'clued up' no my parents aren't linked in any way to the council or bus's or MP's, I just think it's important to do a bit of research and get some understanding of the situation before opening ones mouth and finally I'm not 'hiding my identity' but I don't think my views should need a name or face to be listened to.
dingle-berry, says...
12:32pm Thu 11 Mar 10
The majority of students are time wasters, some get a free £30 a week EMA, so if you disagree with the summer jollies then surely you disagree with EMA
Local advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
pip-pip, says...
10:14pm Wed 17 Feb 10
However Peter is ever eager to jump on any passing bandwagon - or coast bound coach full of appreciative voters. Just don't use any of our Council Tax to fund it. Peter!!
(Travel Agency may be a useful back up job if May elections don't go your way)
pip-pip, age 63 and 3/4ers