Council leaders talking with bus bosses over doomed 141
TRENTBARTON EXECUTIVES SPEAKING TO COUNTY COUNCIL OVER ROUTE
COUNCIL leaders have met bus bosses to find a solution after a backlash over the axing of the 141 bus service.
Trentbarton plans to scrap the service on September 4.
The route connects Sutton-in-ashfield, Hucknall, Mansfield and Nottingham.
But Trentbarton says the 141 has been struggling ever since the pandemic.
The company previously reduced services in the evening.
Now, due to a lack of passengers, it has decided to withdraw the service altogether.
On Monday, Councillor Neil Clarke, chairman of the transport and environment committee at Nottinghamshire County Council, met Trentbarton’s management team.
The meeting continues the dialogue between the council and Trentbarton, hoping to find an alternative for local people.
The 141 service is supported by a subsidy from the county council of £35,000 a year.
Councillor Clarke said: “I organised and chaired a meeting today with senior Trentbarton representatives and local county and district councillors to discuss the 141 service.
“The meeting was very constructive and, whilst we recognise the commercial decision taken to stop the service,
we also know how important this bus route is.
“That’s why we are progressing with work to explore other options to provide sustainable bus services in this area.”
But Stanton Hill and Teversal Councillor Helen-ann Smith said: “It is my belief that Trentbarton have deliberately run down the 141 bus service as an excuse to axe the service altogether.
“I am a regular bus user and the amount of time the bus just hasn’t turned up in Stanton Hill is ridiculous. “It has been extremely badly run – if the 141 turned up at all it was always late. “We need to work together to find a solution.” Councillor Jason Zadrozny, leader of Ashfield District Council for the Ashfield Independents, added: “The ball is now in Nottinghamshire County Council’s court – Trentbarton admit that they will look again at this decision if the subsidy goes up. “We look forward to the alternatives, but still have concerns that the county council will be too slow to act. “Like Trentbarton’s bus service, however – their interest is better late than never.
“We would like to thank the close to 3,500 residents who have signed our petition to demand action now. If it wasn’t for our petition, Conservative transport bosses would simply have done nothing.”
Trentbarton admit that they will look again at this dercision if the subsidy goes up
Councillor Jason Zadrozny