Bus Changes mean residents going nowhere fast – especially on a Sunday

Older people and vulnerable residents living in parts of Salendine Nook, Mount, Lindley and Quarmby who are unhappy with changes to their bus service are being encouraged to come forward and let METRO know how their lives are being affected.

Councillor Cahal Burke – ward councillor for the area – has been contacted by a number of residents about the negative impact the changes are having on their lives asking him what can be done.

Under changes recently implemented by METRO:

• Residents living on Weatherhill Road in Lindley no longer have a Sunday bus Service as the 501 service will take a different route on a Sunday.

• the 357 and 368 services have been merged to form a single 377/378 service

Problems people are experiencing include

– Not being able to get to appointments with doctors or at the hospital in good time
– Having to pay for taxi’s to get to places when they can’t make the bus
– Having to spend much longer travelling than they did previously
– Not being able to visit friends and relatives
– Not being able to attend church on a Sunday

Some residents are saying that they are thankful for their free bus pass but it isn’t much use now there isn’t a bus that meets their needs.

Councillor Burke said:

“A lot of residents, especially older and vulnerable people, have come forward since the changes saying that they have their lives are now much more difficult. Every story is different. From the person who now has to spend three hours attending hospital appointments to the resident who no longer goes to church on a Sunday. I have written to people locally asking them to get in touch with METRO to register the problems that they are having so that they can understand what impacts the changes are having. Hopefully having received that information they might change things again in a way that will better meet people’s needs.”

Anybody who wishes to raise specific issues regarding the recent changes should email: busconsultation@wypte.gov.uk or write: FREEPOST BUS CONSULTATION TEAM (METRO)