Protest over cut to council’s subsidy for city bus route
FEARS SERVICE WILL BE AXED
PROTESTERS have taken to the streets to oppose cuts to a subsidy for Derby’s 17A bus.
The service, managed by Notts & Derby Buses, runs from Derby through Darley Abbey to Allestree and vice versa and currently receives £9,000 a year from Derby City Council.
But the council’s new budget for 2020/2021 approved the removal of the subsidy at a meeting on Wednesday and is due to be fully approved on February 26.
Alison Martin, Labour’s prospective candidate for the 2020 city council election, led around a dozen residents of Darley Abbey in a protest yesterday, alongside current councillor Martin Repton.
“Cutting vital bus services often leaves people who are disabled and the elderly with nowhere to go, literally,” she said.
“Buses are an essential service for many people. But the council should also be doing everything it can to promote public transport for everyone, especially given the traffic congestion and poor air quality we have in Derby. I will be opposing this decision.”
Mr Repton said: “Today I stood at the bus stop alongside a resident who was there with me 33 years ago defending the service then. I have defended this service three times before and I will do my utmost to get the Conservatives to see sense this time.”
A spokeswoman for Derby City Council said that cutting the subsidy would not necessarily result in the cancellation of the 17A service.
She said: “The 17A is the only remaining Derby City Council subsidised service. Derby City Council’s contribution to the service is £9,000 per year. The service operates outside of the city boundaries and serves other communities.
“It is partly subsidised by Derbyshire County Council. Withdrawing the city subsidy will require further discussions with the county council and the operator.
“The service may continue if the subsidy is removed, but the assessment will be subject to a commercial decision by the operator and will, in part, depend on the response of the county council.
“The service in Derby is only used by a small number of passengers, and other direct services to the city centre are available in Allestree and Darley Abbey. As yet there has been no formal notification of cancellation from the operator.”
Derbyshire Live has approached Notts & Derby Buses for comment about the future of the 17A service.