Stagecoach Should Explain Decision to Reduce Bus Services

Edward Leigh MP has called on Stagecoach Lincolnshire to explain to local people the company’s decision to cut services along the number 3 route from Lincoln to Grimsby, which serves Nettleham, Dunholme and Welton.

Our local Member of Parliament, has responded to the significant change to the Number 3 service from Monday 2 April 2012. Which will include the loss of an hourly connecting bus service between the south east and north east of the Gainsborough Constituency during the daytime. Through journeys will now end during the middle part of the day with the last through departures from Lincoln and Grimby at 8:40am and not resuming until 1:40pm.

Stagecoach have admitted that they are eliminating less economical services because of the Department of Transport’s twenty percent reduction in the Bus Service Operators Grant, equivalent to an additional 39p to the cost of a gallon of diesel. But talk of local authority intervention might be overly optimistic, given the £1.3m savings to the county transport budget and the need to find £125m in savings to put the County Council budget on an even keel. Edward Leigh said:

"I am relieved that the cut to the Number 3 service won’t be as deep as originally proposed, but it is still regretful that those who will need to travel outside the peak period will have their options severely curtailed. 

"In rural parts of the country such as ours, providing connections by regular public transport is challenging, but important. I’m not convinced Stagecoach have made a proper case for curtailing the Number 3 service. This follows from their cuts to Sunday and Bank Holiday services from last year.

"This situation is the responsibility of the bus company, and I hope they find more imaginative ways of responding to public demand. They can’t solve their problems simply by demanding subsidies from taxpayers who are hard-pressed to make end’s meet already. All this underlines the overriding importance of cutting the vast deficit we have inherited from the previous government."

New Bus Service Between Cherry Willingham and Nettleham

Villagers in Cherry Willingham, Fiskerton, Nettleham and Reepham are welcoming moves by PC Coaches of Lincoln to introduce a new bus service between the villages, providing a direct link between the Doctors' Surgeries.

PC Coaches has agreed to operate the '4b Nettleham to Cherry Willingham' route from Monday, 12th December 2011 following consultation during the summer by the company, which called on people to tell them where they wanted new services.

Cherry Willingham Parish Council made representations to the firm for a service connecting residents to Nettleham, where the main doctors' surgery for residents is located.

An agreement has been reached and the route will see buses leave North Greetwell from 9.15am and run via Cherry Willingham, Fiskerton and Reepham.

PC Coaches' Operations Manager, Mr. Phil Shirley, said:

"Currently there is no direct service. This is something the council came to us with to see if we would look at it. It's viable so we have done it for them. There's a use it or lose it element. 

"There's no set period but it will be reviewed after three months and we will keep monitoring its progress and work with the parish council. 

"We thought if people told us what they wanted then we are halfway there to providing a service as there are people that want it."

Mr. Shirley added that discussions were continuing with a couple more parish and town councils about establishing new services.

Cherry Willingham resident Mr. Dave Holmes said: 

"I think this will be a welcome service. 

"Opening hours for the Cherry Willingham surgery are limited at best and extending that would have been better. 

"But people have to rely on the Nettleham branch and as many residents are elderly, the distance is a pain. 

"This bus service should help greatly."

New Bio-Fuel Buses Launched in Lincoln

The Lincolnshire Echo has reported on a trailblazing project that uses food waste from landfill to fuel buses has been officially launched.

A fleet of 11 Stagecoach buses, which are the first of their kind in the UK, was unveiled at Lincolnshire Showground yesterday. The programme managers say reduced emissions from the biomethane gas-powered vehicles will reduce damage to the environment.

The project was joint funded by Lincolnshire County Council, which provided £260,000 of investment, and the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA), which injected a further £100,000.

The launch ceremony was conducted by Stagecoach Group chief executive Mr. Brian Souter who said:

"Waste is a big issue for every family and household up and down the country and councils now face major taxes for landfill.

"This is an innovative way of taking something that's a big problem for society and turning it into a fuel of the future."

A special refuelling facility has been installed at Stagecoach's Great Northern Terrace depot, near Lincoln. Investment from EMDA has helped fund this new fuel infrastructure.

Ms Diana Gilhespy, executive director of regeneration at EMDA, said:

"We are delighted that these bio-methane buses are being trialed. We feel it is vitally important to explore innovative ideas for reducing carbon emissions in the East Midlands transport industry."

The project will run for six to 12 months on a number of routes in Lincoln. Lincolnshire County Council and Stagecoach will then review its success and decide if it will be rolled out across more routes in the county.

Cllr. William Webb, Conservative (Holbeach Rural Division) and Executive Member for Highways and Transport, said:

"I am delighted to be associated with Stagecoach on the launch of this project.

"It will have much benefit to the county and the people of Lincolnshire and will benefit people in the whole country."

West Lindsey Step In To Keep Vital Bus Service Operating

Elderly and vulnerable passengers who rely on a door to door bus service to get around the district have been given a helping hand.  The Dial-a-Ride bus service which is equally subsidised by West Lindsey District Council and Lincolnshire County Council will stop running next month.

The county council is stopping the county-wide scheme to cope with the recent Government funding cuts.

However, to ensure passengers are not left stranded in the district - they have struck up a deal with West Lindsey District Council to enhance the existing Call Connect Service.

They have agreed to transfer their share of the Dial-a-Ride Funding to the existing Call Connect service.

Community Officer at West Lindsey District Council, Mrs. Karen Yates said:

"We are delighted that we have managed to come up with a suitable agreement.

"Without alternative provision, the effects on many West Lindsey passengers, who are not able to access public transport, would have been greater than other districts."

West Lindsey is just one of two district councils in Lincolnshire to secure a deal with the county council.  Mrs. Yates added:

"We have allocated 50 per cent of the funding totaling £37,980 to extend the scheme.

"The vast majority of Dial-a-Ride passengers will be able to use the service with extra benefits."

There are three Call Connect buses in the district and a further bus has been added to cope with the additional Dial-a-Ride passengers making a total of four.

More than 100 passengers have transferred from the Dial-a-Ride scheme to Call Connect Plus.

Improved Bus Services Connect Lincoln Fringe With Direct Trains To London

Today sees changes made to the InterConnect 3 service that runs from Grimsby, through Market rasen, Welton, Nettleham and into Lincoln and vice versa. The Monday to Saturday journeys will no longer serve Wheelsby Road and Hainton Avenue in Grimsby, running instead direct via Bargate.

The timetable will operate into Lincoln as follow:

For a full pdf of the timetable click here.

Also, local residents will benefit from a £1,000,000 bus service linking Lincoln to Newark every hour, and connecting to London, also begins today. Six gleaming Stagecoach buses will regularly motor down Tritton Road on to Newark Road, North Hykeham and the A46 to Newark.

The route, called InterConnect 3X, will begin operating this morning and passengers will be treated to leather seats and easy access for buggies and wheelchairs aboard the new vehicles, called Executive Connect.

In Newark, there will be a call at Northgate Station, Lincoln's nearest rail portal to London, Leeds, Newcastle and Scotland, among other destinations.

Mr. Dave Skepper, Commercial Director for Stagecoach East Midlands, said:

"We were looking to connect Lincoln with the mainline railway service at Newark Northgate. We believe there is a demand for travel to Newark Northgate Station as there are a lot of commuters who drive to Newark and park at the station.

"We wanted to install a regular service to the stretch in North Hykeham as there are a lot of new houses there and this will give people a dedicated hourly service."

This service will also provide connections through to Grimsby on the InterConnect 3.

Snow Continues to Disrupt Local Bus Services

Stagecoach Lincolnshire, who operate local bus services, have said that:

"Due to adverse weather conditions services may be severely disrupted."

As of today, Saturday, 9th January 2010, services are operating as follows:

• Most rural routes may be serving main roads only.
• All other services are still running but may be delayed due to the adverse weather conditions.
• Connect 1 Grantham operating via main roads only.
• Connect 3 Lincoln - Grimsby running with delays, however, Caistor will not be served.
• Connect 6 Lincoln to Skegness is now operating through to Skegness missing Hundleby and Raithby.
• Service 13 operating main Brant Road omitting Valley estate in lower Waddington
• Services from North of city omitting Lindum Hill and operating via Monks Road due to ice on Lindum Hill. We will return to normal route as soon as conditions improve.

Weather conditions may deteriorate further and service details may change regularly. If the weather conditions improve, service level will increase.

BREAKING NEWS: No Buses Through Nettleham

I have just received word that owing to the snow buses are unable to traverse Lindum Hill today....

> More now available here.

Snow Disrupts Bus Services

Local bus services operated by Stagecoach Lincolnshire have been disrupted by the snow and icy conditions. The company say that:

"Due to adverse weather conditions services may be severely disrupted."

As of today, Friday, 8th January 2010, the following services are operating as follows:

• Most rural routes may be serving main roads only.
• All other services are still running but may be delayed due to the adverse weather conditions.
• Connect 1 Grantham operating via main roads only.
• Connect 3 running with delays, however, Caistor will not be served.
• Connect 6 Lincoln to Skegness is nowoperating through to Skegness missing Hundleby and Raithby.
• Service 10 - Louth not operating via South Willingham.
• Service 13 Not operating via Holywell Road.
• Service 2 will operate on main roads only, not estates.
• Tesco Buses will not operate via Lissington, Wickenby or Holton-cum-Beckeringham.

Weather conditions may deteriorate further and service details may change regularly. If the weather conditions improve, service level will increase.

Job Done - Bus Timetables

Residents in Nettleham will hopefully be increasingly aware that there is now a Bus Service operating through the village on Sundays and Bank Holidays, supported by the Conservative run Lincolnshire County Council.

On resident brought to my attention that unfortunately, despite the new service begining on Sunday, 1st February 2009, new bus timetables showing the new services hadn't gone up, well following a little investigation on part I am pleased to report that new bus timetables have now gone up at the bus stops in Nettleham. So another little job done.







Giles McNeill
Local Conservative Action Team Co-Ordinator (Nettleham & Saxilby)