Bus passengers in Derbyshire are to keep services paid for by Derbyshire County Council, as plans to cut public transport funding are reviewed
The council had been proposing to withdraw funding for around 144 subsidised services from October 2017. However, following a consultation where more than 90% of respondents said they disagreed with the plan, it has now agreed to provide £3m to continue funding some of the services.
The future of individual services had yet to be decided as CBW went to press, but the council said it would be working closely with operators to see if some of the services can be run commercially.It will also continue to review the whole of the bus network, streamlining less well-used services by reducing their frequency and joining up other services to reduce duplication.
The council also announced that a new bus service is to go on trial in the wider Ashbourne area early next year. Called ‘Derbyshire Connect,’ it will be piloted from February 13, 2017. Passengers will need to book but will be able to travel at variable times, to and from anywhere within the Derbyshire Connect zone.
This takes in many of Ashbourne’s surrounding villages and including Wirksworth.
Lastly, a new edition of the North-East Derbyshire bus timetable book is now available. Copies are obtainable from local sales outlets for £2.50, or direct from the Public Transport Unit at £3.50 each, including postage.
