Hucknall councillors plea for cuts to town bus services to be reversed

Coun Dave Shaw and Coun John Wilmott met Tom Morgan, the new managing director of Trentbarton on his first day in the job.

A Nottinghamshire Council transport boss also attended.

The meeting was held after Trentbarton announced it was axing all evening and Sunday services on the Hucknall Connect service.

The bus serves areas like the Ruffs Estate, Westville, the Welbeck Estate, Broomhill and Hazel Grove areas of Hucknall.

Residents have been up in arms about the proposed cuts with many saying that the cuts leave them unable to get to work and leaves them increasingly isolated and without a bus service when they most need it.

Trentbarton has said low passenger numbers is one of the main reasons the services are being cut.

Councillors also claim another reason is because the council has removed £150,000 of direct subsidy to the operator.

But, as your Dispatch reported last summer, the council always said that the initial funding phase would end in April.

In pleading for the reversal of the service reduction, the Hucknall councillors are to put forward a proposal for the council to subsidise the service on a further six-month trial.

Trentbarton confirmed it would do this if the £75,000 funding is made available by the council.

The Hucknall councillors have now written to transport bosses at County Hall to formally propose the measure.

Coun Shaw, who represents Hucknall West at County Hall, which is the area most affected by the cuts, said: “These cuts will have a devastating impact, especially on our estates.

“Our proposal is a tiny fraction of the council’s total budget, yet will make a massive difference to so many people’s lives.

“Trentbarton admitted the service they have provided has been unreliable and that may be a reason for the lower than expected passenger numbers.

“We accept that their service has now improved considerably so on that basis – our proposal is entirely sensible.

"Residents on our estates will then get the chance to vote to keep their own bus service with their custom.”

Coun Neil Clarke (Con), cabinet member for transport and environment at the council, said: “Operators across Nottinghamshire have told us that bus recovery has been slower than hoped so they will no longer be able to operate some services in their current form.

“We have already stepped in to support 11 bus services across Nottinghamshire which would otherwise have been withdrawn from April.

“We have prioritised supporting these services in areas where there would be no alternatives for residents if we did not take action and our priority is making sure that communities have access to health, employment and essential shopping facilities.

“Trentbarton is not fully withdrawing Connect services in Hucknall as they will still be in operation in the daytime.

“Nottinghamshire County Council currently supports 80 bus services at a cost of £4.1 million per year.

"We intend to carry out a full review of all services supported through the local bus budget and will look at any gaps in service provision across the county, which will include the impact of these withdrawals and service reductions by operators, including the Trentbarton Connect services.”