Councillor Potter at one of the bus stops for the 43 service

A Preston councillor has written to a bus firm about the withdrawal of a service going through part of Fulwood.

Cadley is to see the 43 bus service scrapped and replaced with the 44 – but it will go by a different route.

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Councillor John Potter, who represents the ward, says elderly residents will be left struggling by the proposed new route.

Preston Bus say the 43 service is being changed due to overcrowding on the 31 from Tulketh Mill and Lane Ends area.

Read more: 14 bus services across Preston are changing

So the 31 is to go via Blackpool Road and Lane Ends instead of Lytham Road and Mill Lane.

The company is revising the 43 to be the 44 and continue to Cottam, Lea Road via the existing route.

The new service will better serve the Lane Ends area according to the firm. It remains operating every 30 minutes.

Read more: How bus fares for kids in Preston are going up

Cllr Potter said: “I’m writing to you to express my concern about the reported cancellation of the 43 bus service that goes through my ward of Cadley.

“I’m also surprised that as an elected representative for the area you haven’t chosen to inform me of such a change despite the fact I contacted you with the very real concerns of residents when the 44 bus service was to be cancelled. It was a great relief to many that the 43 came in as a replacement for the 44 at the time.

“There are many elderly residents living off Cadley Causeway including in two lots of sheltered housing who will struggle to walk to Black Bull Lane or Woodplumpton Road to catch a bus into the town centre. As charities such as Age UK rightly point out, loneliness is now a critical problem with the elderly. Over one million older people now don’t speak to friend, neighbour or family member for at least a month.

“Unfortunately your decision to cancel the 43 bus service will put further pressures on this already vulnerable group and I urge you to reconsider.”

Read more: Preston Bus to run more late night services to and from city centre

The Preston Bus service changes are part of 14 changes to routes and timetables across the city, which are due to begin from Monday 5 September.

Do you live in the area? What do you think of the bus changes? Let us know in the comments below