Elderly passengers call to restore buses after firm’s collapse

Older passengers using the Revidge Circular in Wensley Fold, run by Darwen Coach Services, have joined pensioners in Sunnybower in demanding early action.

On December 16, the firm went out of business at 6am leaving 18 routes in Blackburn and Darwen left without buses and making eight drivers redundant.

It came the day after the firm had a second bus seized by police over a lack of insurance within weeks.

East Rural ward councillor Julie Slater has expressed her concern over the lack of bus routes to Town Hall officials.

Cllr Phil Riley, the council executive member responsible for transport, pledged he and his staff were seeking to sort out replacements quickly.

John Smith, 70, of Wensley Road, said: "There are lot of older people here who use the Number 10 Revidge Circular.

"It has really left us in a mess as many of us don't have a car. It's been horrendous.

"The council need to pull their finger out."

Cllr Slater said: "I am very concerned, especially for people in Darwen and most of those in the surrounding villages who depended on these services."

Cllr Riley said:"I appreciate Darwen Coach Services going out of business is causing real difficulties for many people.

"We are doing everything we can to try to limit the impact from the closure of this company.

"We are now in the process of trying to find alternative providers to take on other routes, as this can only be resolved by working with commercial operators."

Specialist bus operator Dial-A-Ride has put additional services in place for over-55s to call in both towns for £4 in Blackburn and £3 in Darwen to help fill the gap.

Henry Arnold, chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen Community Transport, said:"Unfortunately we cannot accept the bus passes but we have reduced the fare to make it affordable.

“We will be treating this as a trial and if people use the service we will endeavour to make it permanent.”