A petition has been launched to oppose proposed Stagecoach bus cuts affecting passengers in Kendal and Burneside, including plans to end two services and reduce the frequency of three others.
The campaign was started by Libby Bateman, the Liberal Democrat candidate for mayor of Cumbria, after Stagecoach revealed plans to change its timetables. The proposals would end the 445 and 46 routes, while reducing services on the 43, 44 and 45.
Routes facing timetable reductions
The 44 service between Kendal and Hallgarth would be reduced from twice an hour during the day to around once an hour on Mondays to Fridays. The proposed timetable would also mean there was no 44 bus before 8am on a Saturday.
The 43 route, linking Kendal with Morrisons, and the 45 route between Kendal and Burneside would each fall from eight services a day to five on Mondays to Fridays.
Ending the 445 and 46 services would affect the routes covered by those timetables, although the supplied campaign material does not provide further details about their stops or replacement arrangements.
Campaign calls for support
Ms Bateman said the services were particularly important to older and vulnerable people. She also linked the campaign to efforts to reduce carbon emissions and traffic congestion, arguing that bus provision should be increased rather than reduced.
“As someone who helped to set up a community bus charity in Cumbria, I know just how important these services are – especially for older and vulnerable people.
“At a time when we’re trying to reduce carbon emissions and traffic congestion, we need to be investing in more bus services – not cutting them.
She urged people in Kendal and Burneside to sign and share the petition. It is available at libbyforcumbria.uk/campaigns/kendalbus.