‘A solution must be found’ to stop buses being withdrawn

A MEETING has been held to try and prevent First Bus from withdrawing some services in a village around school time due to congestion problems.

The Post & Times reported in November that First Bus had raised concerns that parked cars were causing a danger in Holt Lane, Kingsley in the morning and afternoon near the entrance to St Werburgh’s School.

The public service operator informed members of Kingsley Parish Council that they were considering taking away services through the village at school times due to the heavy congestion and parked cars in the area.

If the service was withdrawn it would affect three buses each way, making a total of six journeys at school time between 8am and 9pm in the morning and the between 2.30pm and 3.30pm in the afternoon.

Following the danger of services being removed, a public meeting has now taken place.

Outlining the nature of the immediate problem, Daniel Flanagan of First Bus said that congestion is progressively getting worse. A significant number of cars are parked, with no passing gaps, for quite a long way making it difficult for the drivers to negotiate Holt Lane and pull up at the bus stop.

A delegated First Bus Examiner had recently been out and witnessed what is happening first hand. In addition to delays caused by the number of parked cars, they also had major concerns around road safety.

There are long sections of Holt Lane, including a blind bend, obstructed by vehicles parked half on – half off the pavement, which results in buses having to drive on the wrong side of the road with no clear view of the road ahead.

Councillor Ivor Lucas spoke about the seriousness of the problem and the importance of the bus service to Kingsley and Kingsley Holt and that a solution must be found to the problem.

Councillor David Fowler stressed the importance of the service, not only to Kingsley and Kingsley Holt, but also for people in Ipstones, Foxt and Whiston who used the service, as they now had no or a very limited bus service in those villages.

Councillor John Steele said: “This is a very difficult problem. We need to find a solution, or we may well lose the bus service through the village at the material times. All options should be available for consideration.

“The afternoon pick-up poses more problems than the morning drop-off as parents are obliged to wait until their children appear and tend to arrive earlier to secure a good spot.”

Highway officer David Greatbatch acknowledged the degree of the problem but explained that a Traffic Restriction Order should be considered as a last resort option when all other possible solutions had been tried and had failed.

He said: “If approved, parking restrictions could be total or time related, they could involve the area around the blind bend or be extended further. Even with such parking restrictions in place there is still the problem of enforcement.

“We should also consider that if parking was restricted in Holt Lane it may move the parking problem elsewhere in the village.

“These sorts of problems are by no means unique, similar problems exist outside most village/town primary schools. The only difference in this case is the impact of the problem on the local bus service.” It was agreed that several measures be taken to try and resolve the problem.

Speaking at the last meeting of Kingsley Parish Council chairman of the authority, Ken Unwin, said: “A public meeting has taken place. The conclusion is that a letter be composed to the school for parents. This was the last chance to change parking or lose buses.

“There will be a site meeting with the County Council in the New Year, while First Bus has agreed to suspend the decision for the time being.”