X41 fate marks more misery for commuters

IF this column is in danger of sounding obsessed by buses, then that’s probably a fair summary.

Last week’s news that the X41 from Accrington/Haslingden/ Helmshore to Manchester is to be scrapped has prompted petitions and protests from politicians across the political divide (the same politicians who have been singing Transdev’s praises all year, it should be said!)

Transdev has tried to soften the blow by telling people to catch a bus from Haslingden/Helmshore to Rawtenstall and then the Witch Way to Manchester. I drove past a Witch Way bus on the M66 at about 7.45am on Monday - it was nearly empty, for a peak time.

Of course, that’s just one bus. But if Transdev can essentially merge its bus routes into

Manchester so the buses still running are fuller, it makes those services more sustainable.

But at what point does the bus become less attractive than the car for those people who were using the X41 at peak time? Especially when one of the promises from the council to Transdev when the new bus station was built was that users of the Witch Way would get their own special car park in Rawtenstall town centre.

Rossendale Council is open about the fact it doesn’t yet have a parking strategy for the town centre, despite all the development going on.

It now seems quite likely even more people will drive into Rawtenstall town centre to park up to catch the bus to Manchester as a result of the X41 being scrapped.

All in all, a bad result. Again.