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| Original image via Stagecoach (Mash-Up via Internet) |
The next Lancaster District Bus Users’ Group meeting is at 2.00 pm in Lancaster Library, on 20th October, announced as local press report on the disastrous impact service cuts are having, with one local pensioner resorting to hitch-hiking to get about.
County Councillor John Fillis, the cabinet member at County responsible for transport issues, will be at the meeting to answer a set of questions decided on at the Group’s last meeting. These will include asking about the loss of buses in rural areas, about what is the outlook for the buses that are currently being operated under contract by County and about the planned Park and Ride service from Junction 34 of M6.
The meeting comes after the group reported its concerns about Lancaster’s first Park & Ride scheme, due to open soon, a planning condition of the construction of the Heysham Link Road. The service will link a dedicated car park site adjacent the remodelled Junction 34 of the M6 with the City Centre, but incredibly, full details of the scheme have not yet been made public.
Even the offical Cabinet Member Report that authorises the service is short on detail but from what little information has been provided it appears, a report on the Group’s web site suggests, that the service is, perhaps intentionally, perhaps through lack of expertise, being set up to fail.
Park & Ride is a long-established concept in the UK with many cities and large towns running successful schemes taking traffic out of central areas. As one would expect a great deal of research has been done into what makes schemes successful, but one such report – from the prestigious Chartered Institute of Highways & Transportation – on what constitues best practice suggests that Lancashire County Council, for whatever reason, hasn’t got it right. Read the full news story here.
Lancaster District Bus Users Group exists to further the interests of bus passengers throughout the Lancaster District, including Morecambe, Heysham, Carnforth and the surrounding rural area. Membership is open everyone and the subscription is £5 per annum (£2 for Bus Pass holders and students).
For details of how to join or to learn more about the Group email them at lancasterbususers@gmail.com
• The group is online at http://lancsbus.blogspot.co.uk