This commercial bus service by a private company, Stagecoach, is set to reduce its off-peak service from hourly to two-hourly, starting on 3 January. We’ve been keeping in close contact with Stagecoach over many years, always querying the well-being of the 26 bus service. It has long been a ‘marginal’ service; a slight dip in ridership affects its commercial viability and this is the reason behind Stagecoach’s decision to reduce the service. We are concerned for two reasons: 1) it is a vitally important service to those who depend on it and 2) when a bus service reduces in frequency it becomes less viable and the downward spiral is in motion.

The Council has no sway; and if this were a Council-subsidized service the situation would be worse, because the Council can no longer afford to subsidize public transport. What little is left in the pot we have fought tooth and nail for, and there are no guarantees for the future. Please get in touch if you would like to know more about efforts to retain transport subsidies.

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