Councillors welcome reprieve for threatened bus service but fight goes on

Leicestershire Lib Dem councillors campaigning to save threatened rural bus services have welcomed news that a threatened service has been saved for another six months.

The 159 Roberts bus which travels between Hinckley and Coalville and stops at many local villages including Newbold Verdon, Barlestone, Market Bosworth and Stapleton was due to end in December. However thanks to campaigning by residents and councillors the County Council has agreed to support the service until June next year.

Meanwhile the 153 Arriva service which travels between Market Bosworth and Leicester is still facing cutbacks to the service including removing peak time services.

Cllr Joyce Crooks chair of Newbold Parish Council said "This is very positive news. However we want to see the 159 saved permanently and we want Arriva to drop their plans to cut the 153 service"

Cllr Bill Crooks added "Many villages have lost their Post Offices, their pubs and other facilities. Losing bus services would mean yet more facilities being lost from the rural areas. Arriva and the County Council must work together and keep these buses running.

"We have been running a petition to save these services and have had a great response, i would urge anyone who hasn't signed the petition yet to add their name to it."

Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman Cllr Michael Mullaney said "These rural bus services are a lifeline for many people living in rural communities it's essential they are kept. Many young people use these buses to get to school or college, many people use them to get to work and many elderly residents use the services to be able to go shopping.

"To lose these bus services would be a disaster for a whole string of Leicestershire villages."

A demonstration was held in Newbold Verdon which saw over 70 local residents protesting for the bus services to be save.

People can sign the petition to save local bus services at www.bosworthlibdems.org.uk