Denia bus service will leave out key locations

No stops planned for health centre, hospital, marina or market, claim opposition party

A BUS SERVICE extension including the town centre is ‘ lame and unambitious’, complained a Denia opposition party.

Centreright Ciudadanos ( C’s) say it leaves out some of the most strategic parts of the Marina Alta district capital.

The existing contract is about to expire and the job is due to be put out to tender, with five routes instead of the existing four.

But it does not include stops at the indoor market, the GP surgery, the sports centre, the cemetery, the Sorts del Mar high school or the marina.

The latter is fast becoming one of the town’s main shopping, eatingout and events venues, but is far from the central hub.

Also, the bus service will not join up with La Xara transport link, which serves the hospital, meaning patients and visitors from Denia will still have to use their cars.

Residents in the Baix la Mar and port area are ‘ the oldest in the town’, and yet they will not have a bus link to the doctors’ surgery or hospital – despite being the ‘ segment most likely to need it’, noted C’s.

And buses should also serve the outoftown car parks if the council intends to go ahead with its mass pedestrianising plans, the party says.

Cruiseship passengers, and holidaymakers staying at the main hotels – including Port Dénia, the ‘ Saga resort’ – will not be covered by the route, meaning they will need to take a taxi or hire a car to be able to explore the town and get the best out of their stay, C’s point out.

The party also claims they only found out through the press that the roundtown transport franchise was set to include stops on the main Marqués de Campo boulevard, which the council is determined to pedestrianise despite nearunanimous objection from local traders.

The service is expected to cost around € 9 million during the 10year franchise, and earn about € 3.6m through ticket sales.