Town’s ‘least viable’ bus service is axed

Last updated 19:50, Thursday, 28 August 2008

MARYPORT’S number 56 bus service will be cut on Monday.

The managing director of travel firm Stagecoach, Chris Bowles, said the service will be withdrawn after a county council transport review.

He said: “We said we could not run the number 56 on our own because it is the least commercially viable run in the town.

“The county was not prepared to subsidise it so the service has been withdrawn.”

Bill Cameron, county councillor for Maryport, said he has had a number of people approach him and he is very concerned about the withdrawal of the service.

“There are people who have limited mobility and the bus is their only way to get out,” he said.

He said there were about 18 users on the number 56 route, which took in the Promenade, Back Brow and North Quay, delivering people to the Co-op and Senhouse Street.

“I know they are not all using the bus at the same time, but they all use it at some time or the other,” he said.

Coun Cameron and Coun Keith Little both said their council might have to have a rethink what will happen on the route.

Coun Little said the county might have to negotiate with another company and Coun Cameron said if necessary it might even be possible to work out some sort of subsidised taxi service.

Mr Bowles said he would be willing to negotiate with the council but added there was little time to do anything before Monday and the service would be withdrawn.