Three communities waiting 17 years for the return of a bus service, are going to have to wait a little longer.
Residents across Motherby, Greystoke and Newbiggin, near Stainton, united last summer to get connected to the X4/X5 service between Penrith and Keswick.
Buses already call at Penruddock, Threlkeld and Stainton, but bypass the three communities, which have residents of all ages needing to travel to the two towns.
Hopes of getting a new service soared in October when the Government announced that it planned to axe the HS2 extension
It pledged to free up millions of pounds for local councils to subsidise new transport schemes, particularly in rural areas.
Local campaigners hoped that their scheme was precisely the type which could benefit from new funding.
However, now it seems the government funding will be used to fund a more frequent service to the same villages – while continuing to leave others out altogether.
Pam Wood, chair of the bus action group, said: “This is completely inequitable and not at all in accordance with the government strategy to connect rural communities to public transport.”
X4/X5 operators Stagecoach has told Westmorland and Furness Council that it would not be possible to add three new stops.
The concern is that doing so would negatively impact the existing Penrith-Keswick service by creating longer journeys and making the service less attractive to existing customers travelling between Penrith and Keswick, according to Stagecoach.
The company also appears to remain unconvinced about the volume of passengers likely to use the service across the three areas.
A residents’ Bus Action Group, formed last summer, is now planning further meetings with the council and officials to explore other options as an interim measure, with renewed campaigning for the three communities to be added to the Stagecoach X4/X5 winter timetable.
Meetings include those with outgoing Penrith and the Border MP, Neil Hudson, with Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, Tim Farron, having already made representations to Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council.
The situation has proved more complicated as the Penrith-Keswick route spans two different council areas with inequitable funding released across the patch.
Pam said: “We do not accept these reasons as valid nor that this is the final outcome. We will continue to fight for a service and all parties should be prepared for a sustained campaign and to understand our collective voice is only going to get louder.”
The Bus Action Group meets again at Newbiggin village hall on Wednesday, February 28 at 7pm.
