Councillor and residents take steps to protect local bus services in wake of summer cutbacks

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 5th Aug 2005

Local residents, supported by local Liberal Democrat councillor Keith Hill, in Dore and Totley are demanding that their local bus service is not scaled down in the wake of summer cutbacks through August. Cllr Keith Hill has initiated a petition that asks FirstBus to maintain local bus services.

As part of the wide-scale summer reductions, to be in operation through the month of August, the 97, 97A, 30 and 50 services will have their frequency significantly reduced. The buses will now run every 20 minutes instead of every 15 minutes. Whilst the cutbacks may not seem significant to some, Cllr Hill believes they could be 'the thin end of the wedge' if they are not reversed as promised in September.

Cllr Hill's petition, supported by over 400 local residents, asks for FirstBus not only to reintroduce services after the planned August reductions but to ensure that services are protected and improved in the long term.

Cllr Keith Hill, Liberal Democrat member for Dore and Totley ward, said: -

"Local people who use bus services are not happy at the prospect of their local service being cut, especially at a time when they have just had three above inflation fare increases within six months imposed on them. These cutbacks must not be the thin end of the wedge which allows permanent reductions"

"I do not welcome the summer reductions and our petition demands that services are reinstated in September as promised, it also calls for the long-term protection and improvement of bus services to the South West of the City"

"Its vital that bus users in areas like Dore and Totley are protected from service cuts. Reducing services is not the best way to persuade travellers to use public transport. I hope that the petition will send FirstBus a message that bus services in our area are essential"