Councillors urge residents to back rural bus services campaign

Liberal Democrat Councillors in Hinckley and Bosworth are urging residents concerned about rural bus services to back a petition on the issue.

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England are running a petition to Grant Shapps the Secretary of State for Transport calling for the protection of bus services in towns and villages in England.

Backing the campaign is Hinckley Liberal Democrat Councillor Michael Mullaney. Michael said "For many years colleagues and I on the County Council have campaigned against cutbacks to the subsidies for rural bus services. For people without cars who live in the small towns and villages of Hinckley and Bosworth a bus service can be a lifeline. It's vital we protect the bus services we have, they mustn't become another loss from the pandemic. I'm backing the CPRE petition to protect rural bus services and would urge all other concerned residents to sign the petition".

Hinckley and Bosworth Lib Dem Councillor Mark Sheppard-Bools who campaigned to save the 159 bus which serves local villages including Barwell, Barlestone and Stapleton from being axed said "As councillor for Newbold Verdon and nearby villages like Stapleton I have fought to save the 159 bus service which serves those villages. The bus is a lifeline for people in those villages who don't drive, particularly in Stapleton where it is the only bus service. I support this campaign to protect rural bus services and would urge all concerned residents to sign the petition".

If people want to add their name to the petition to save rural bus services they can sign it at https://takeaction.cpre.org.uk/page/74256/petition/1?locale=en-GB