Struggling city bus service falls victim to Covid
STRUGGLING Derby bus service has finally been cancelled after the ongoing pandemic finally sounded its death knell.
The number 17 bus from Duffield to Derby and the 17A from Allestree to Derby, which both pass through Darley Abbey, have been dropped by operator Notts & Derby Buses despite being financially supported for many years by Derby City Council.
The service provided residents with a transport link to local amenities at both Park Farm shopping centre and in the city centre, as well as acting as a school bus to Ecclesbourne School in Duffield.
However, while schools have been shut due to coronavirus restrictions, the service did not run at all due to a lack of funding.
Notts & Derby Buses, the operator of these routes, took a commercial decision at the end of February to terminate the bus service.
This was taken 12 months on from protests taking place about the council’s proposal to axe funding for the bus but which did not happen.
Darley ward councillor Martin Repton described the service as a lifeline for disabled or elderly people unable to get to the shops or doctors’ practice, or those without a car.
Stuart Frost, manager of Notts & Derby Buses, described the service as “no longer commercially viable” and admitted: “The service was struggling prior to the pandemic and it didn’t look like it was going to get any better after it.
“It is entirely up to Derby City Council if they want to keep it going.”
A Derby City Council spokesman said: “The service has been financially supported by the city council for many years. However, this is a commercial decision taken by the operator, in what is a difficult operational and commercial environment, due to the impact of Covid-19 across the public transport sector. The 17/17A is a financial victim of Covid. “Although the council has financially supported the service, it has no statutory or regulatory powers of direction and cannot formally object or block the service changes.”
It is understood that the city council explored the possibility of resuming the service in January despite schools being closed. However, it was deemed that this would not be financially viable and go beyond the budget available to the council.
The spokesman added: “Although the amount involved was only £500 per week, this also depended on other contributions beyond the control of the council. Without the additional contributions then the costs to the council would escalate.
“Obviously, this was not a oneoff cost, it would have been every week for the future and within the context of stretched budgets, with the council also facing difficult financial and service delivery choices.
“From a commercial perspective, taking away the marginal services and focusing on re-building business is a clear option, but this does mean the end of the service through the village, and the council recognises the impact on service users.”
The city council requested additional funding from the DepartA ment for Transport to specifically support the 17 and 17A service but was not successful in its application.
The council has stated that it is willing to work with local councillors and communities to find an alternative solution using the funding for 2021/22 of £9,000 that was previously put towards the bus service.
It is unlikely that a replacement service will follow the previous route and timetable of the 17 and 17A service but an affordable transport link to Park Farm shopping centre is being explored.
Mr Repton said he would be “working with Derby City Council to find an operator that can provide, maybe not a bus, but possibly a shuttle service to Park Farm or Derby”.
Notts & Derby Buses also confirmed that it has terminated both the 73 and D1 services that run from Derby bus station to Westonon-Trent and the Meteor Centre Park & Ride, respectively.
This is a commercial decision taken by the operator... the 17/17A is a financial victim of Covid. City council