Leicester bus routes facing axe as council set to cut its subsidies
Cuts to bus subsidies in Leicester mean several evening and weekend services, and a number of school buses, are facing the axe.
The city council's planned reductions, the implications for users and the cost savings of the £565,500 package of cuts are detailed in the Leicester Mercury today.
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Head teacher Miroslaw Olszewski voiced concern over the theat to school bus services
The reduction in subsidies mean unprofitable routes which are propped up by council cash could cease.
Cuts to school and college bus services are likely to be made at the end of the this year's academic year in July.
Cuts to regular services could be made as early as next month.
One commuter service is facing being axed entirely.
Eight weekday evening services could also be lost, along with four Sunday services and a Saturday service.
School buses to Judgemeadow Community College and Longslade Community College will be pulled under the plans, along with buses serving English Martyr's, St Patrick's, Holy Cross and St Joseph's Catholic schools.
Miroslaw Olszewski, the headteacher at St Patrick's, in Harrison Road, Belgrave, said: "To take this service away may put parents in a position that would take away parent choice, especially if they wish to send their child to a faith school."
The affected school services are not services the council has to provide by law, but services it has chosen to lay on because there is no comparable general bus service or because the existing buses cannot cope with the number of passengers which want to use them.
Remaining school services will see ticket prices rise from 65 pence to £1 per trip.
The private bus operators behind the threatened routes could not tell the Mercury yesterday whether the services could continue without subsidies.
A city council spokesman said: "The budget pressures mean we are withdrawing funding from these services. "We're also withdrawing funding from a small number of other services where there are alternatives for passengers."
READ: "It's terrible, I've no other way home."
10 Comments
by Bridget, Leicester
Friday, January 28 2011, 9:25PM
“I Think its a poor show when the council decide to axe a bus service to and from the Leicester General Hospital after a certain time at night... I know of a few NHS workers that have no other way of getting home after their shifts. They are poorly paid enough without having to pay out for taxis home. Im sure the NHS cant afford to pay for transport after all the cuts the government have already made.
And in reply to p, oadby.. not everyone has the luxury of owning or being able to afford to run a car... in some cases the buses are their only means of transport.”
by Joshcarter93, Anstey
Friday, January 28 2011, 12:15AM
“This is shocking!! Are they seriously stopping school buses to longslade?? Do they expect 300-odd students to catch public busses all at exactly the same time in the morning? Again adding to congestion problems! Have they thought of who's paying for public busses too? With EMA being scrapped too!? Disgrace! Im a student at the college and this is disgusting and I shall fight this all the way.”
by polly, braunstone
Saturday, January 22 2011, 10:03AM
“I use the 16 to go to the General Hospital and 18 for various reasons .
For six days a week these buses are running pretty full, .so how much subsidy has been overpaid?
The bus companies could probably stand the cost of the 9-11 evening journys
I agree with Robert walking is good for you, but it is not a good idea for anyone to walk home late at night, let alone young girls,”
by Debbie, Leicester
Friday, January 21 2011, 9:29PM
“Cutting public transport will only add to the already clogged up roads and lead to more misery on the roads and travelling.”
by p, Oadby
Friday, January 21 2011, 4:24PM
“Good the less buses on the road the better how many services run the same service in the county? Also will make traffic run smoother instead of buses clogging up the roads, cutting across lanes at rush hour thinking they own the place.Will also improve air quality with the fumes bellowing out all hours of the day.”
by Robert Jamieson, Notts (working in Leicester)
Friday, January 21 2011, 4:07PM
“If you overspend to the extent that the last government did then it's not surprising that the remedies are now more painful than they would have otherwise been.
There must be very little demand for most of these services and a bit of walking is all that's really needed.
Robert”
by Andy, Leicester
Friday, January 21 2011, 11:12AM
“Unfortunately there is only so much money in the pot so if you are going to pay many of our public servants over £i00k then money will have to be saved elsewhere.Sorry but the cupboard is bare.”
by Peter, Wigston
Friday, January 21 2011, 11:11AM
“Place the blame where it is due.
It is the Con clone government's political choice to drastically cut council grants in Labour voting areas.
Con voting Dorset received an increase in council grant! Surprise, surprise.”
by Peter, Wigston
Friday, January 21 2011, 11:11AM
“Place the blame where it is due.
It is the Con clone government's political choice to drastically cut council grants in Labour voting areas.
Con voting Dorset received an increase in council grant! Surprise, surprise.”
by tony walker, evington
Friday, January 21 2011, 10:44AM
“shocked i must say - there are no alternatives to 16 and 22 bus routes in this part of the city. it would mean having to get a taxi home everytime i want to enjoy a night out in the city with friends. There are no social amenities except 2 pubs in this area of the town in the evenings. i dont drive and dont want the cost of driving if i pass my tax = more expense. I will be forced to sell up and move - unacceptable to not have late buses. Council have not heard the last of this!”