New funded taxi service is a lifeline

VILLAGERS left stranded after Arriva axed rural bus routes are being offered a subsidised taxi service instead.

Leicestershire County Council has stepped in to provide demand responsive transport (DRT) for residents of Littlethorpe, Cosby, Carlton, Barton in the Beans, Nailstone and Cotesbach.

The scheme offers timetabled trips to urban centres such as Hinckley and Earl Shilton which must be booked. Bus passes can be used to offset the cost, just like a regular bus service.

The move comes after Arriva decided to pull some of its ser- vices in the borough as part of a timetable shake-up.

Nailstone, Carlton and Barton-in-the-Beans have all been left without regular public transport by the changes. Arriva says passengers simply weren’t using the services, leaving them financially unviable.

However, the county has intervened to ensure nondriving villagers are not entirely isolated.

A spokesman said: “The new services provide residents with essential travel links. Timetables are being posted at bus stops and our online travel planning website is available to help people plan their journeys.”

DRT schemes have been operating across the county for some years and offer a lifeline for anyone without access to a car in areas no longer serviced by commercial public transport.

Taxi firms provide the vehicles and it is these firms which need to be contacted for travel to be arranged.

While recognising it is not as regular and repeated as a commercial bus service, county officials say at least it “softens the blow” of bus service loss.

Changes made by Arriva affect various routes and came into effect on Friday April 21. The county’s DRT for the affected areas started the next day.

More information about these new services, including timetables, is available at: http://www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/servicechanges/

The Arriva changes includ- ed service 84 running every 20 minutes to Cosby with one bus per hour continuing on to Broughton Astley and Lutterworth. Service 85 continues to run every 20 minutes to Countesthorpe and South Wigston.

Service 84 has combined with new X84 to provide a bus every 30 minutes between Lutterworth, Broughton Astley and the city centre.

The 153 Leicester to Market Bosworth no longer serves Nailstone, Carlton, or Barton in the Beans.

Some services have been increased due to demand. The 158 Leicester to Hinckley and Nuneaton now runs every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime. Evening and Sunday journeys have been extended to Nuneaton.