A number of evening and Sunday bus services across Preston are due to be withdrawn from May.
AdvertisementLancashire County Council is planning to cut its subsidising of a number of routes across the county, with many in Preston.
A cull of routes go, which focus on cutting bus options from Preston to more rural areas from the early evening until late at night.
It will leave many people with the choice of driving in and out of the city if planning to visit the city into the evening. Or relying on taxis.
A statement from Lancashire County Council said: “While the large majority of bus services across Lancashire are run solely on a commercial basis, the county council currently spends around £8 million each year subsidising bus travel.
“This proposal would maintain the majority of that spending, while saving £1.82m next year and more than £2m a year after that by focusing on subsidising routes during the day, when they are most used by people going about their business: getting to work or medical appointments and doing their shopping.
“We are also proposing an additional £500,000 investment in community transport to make sure that support is focused on those with the greatest need and where the public transport network is particularly limited.”
The consultation documents for the bus service changes are on the county council website, as they look to make the decision at the February meeting of the full council.
You can comment on the proposals by emailing lcc.bus.services@lancashire.gov.uk or writing to Bus & Supported Transport Manager, Lancashire County Council, Room D3, PO Box 100, County Hall, Preston, PR1 0LD.
Routes to be cut:
Running from the Bus Station through Fulwood, Woodplumpton, Broughton, Goosnargh and ending at Longridge.
The 7.05pm, 9.05pm, 10.25pm and 12am service would be stopped on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The return service from Longridge to the Bus Station at 9.27pm and 11.27pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays would be stopped.
Passengers would be advised to use the 19 and 23 service between the Bus Station and Royal Preston Hospital and the limited Stagecoach 40 service between Preston and Broughton.
Running from Preston Bus Station to Ormskirk it runs through Broadgate, Penwortham, New Longton, Longton and then villages out to Ormskirk.
The 6.50pm and 9pm service on Monday to Saturday would be stopped.
The 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays would also go.
On Sundays the 8.05am and all services on the hour, 6.05pm, 6.50pm, 9pm and 11.30pm service would go.
The return service from Ormskirk would see the 8.05pm and 10.15pm service stopped Monday to Saturday. The 12.40am service on a Friday and Saturday would also stop.
And on a Sunday the 9.25am service and all services following including 7.25pm, 8.05pm and 10.15pm would stop.
Passengers would be advised to use the 2 and 3 services for Tarleton and Penwortham. There is also the 111 service for those wanting to get to Penwortham.
Running from Preston Bus Station to Fairfax Road in Holme Slack.
Services on Monday to Saturday to go would be the 7.57pm, 8.57pm, 9.57pm and 10.57pm.
The return journey from Holme Slack would lose the 8.09pm, 9.09pm, 10.09pm, 11.09pm would go.
On a Sunday, all services would be withdrawn for the number 14 route.
There is no other bus route for passengers to use.
On Sundays and Bank Holidays, the Morecambe to Preston Bus Station route will lose the 7.50pm and 10.54pm service.
The Preston to Morecambe route loses the 9.10pm service.
The service runs from the Bus Station through Ashton, Lea and then out to Lytham and St Annes before reaching Blackpool.
On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday it will lose the 8.25pm, 9.40pm and 11.10pm services.
On Sundays the 7.55pm, 8.55pm, 9.55pm and 10.45pm go.
For the Blackpool to Preston service it loses the 9.45pm and 11pm service.
Going the other way, the 9.24pm, 10.24pm and 11.13pm services go.
Passengers will be able to use various different services on the route.
Running from Preston to Blackpool it goes through Riversway, Ashton, Lea and then out through villages via Kirkham to Blackpool.
On Sundays the service will lose the 8.55am, 10.25am, 11.55am, 1.25pm, 2.55pm, 4.25pm and 5.55pm services between Preston and Blackpool.
Going from Blackpool to Preston it loses the exact same time services.
Was going to see reduced evening and Sunday services, although its operator Classic Bus North West went bust in December – the service finished completely with immediate effect.
Runs between Preston Bus Station to Chorley interchange, via Walton Park, Lostock Hall, Leyland and Euxton.
On Monday to Saturday the 7.35pm, 8.35pm, 9.35pm, 10.35pm and 11.35pm services will be stopped.
The Chorley to Preston route will see the 6.40pm, 7.40pm, 8.40pm, 9.40pm, 10.40pm and 11.30pm stopped.
On Sundays, the route would just be discontinued completely.
Passengers would be advised to use the rail service for Lostock Hall and Leyland. The 111 service could be used between Preston and Leyland.
Runs between Preston and Wigan, going through Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Leyland and then out via Standish to Wigan.
The Preston to Wigan service would lose on Monday to Saturday the 6.45pm, 8.15pm, 9.30pm, 11pm and 12.15am services.
From Wigan to Preston, the service would lose the 6.55pm, 8.10pm, 9.40pm, 10.55pm and 12.22am times.
Runs between Preston and Clayton-le-Woods, going through Frenchwood, Walton-le-Dale and then to Bamber Bridge and Lostock Hall.
On Monday to Saturday the 114 from Preston would lose 7.25pm, 8.25pm, 9.25pm, 10.25pm and 11.25pm service.
The route coming into Preston would see the service which starts at Bamber Bridge stopped from 8.42pm, 9.42pm, 10.42pm and 11.42pm.
On Sundays, the route is completely withdrawn.
Passengers would be told to use the 125 or get the train to Bamber Bridge.
Going from Preston to Bamber Bridge via Gregson Lane and Hoghton.
The Preston to Bamber Bridge service loses the 7.40pm, 8.40pm, 9.40pm, 10.40pm, 11.40pm services on Mondays to Saturdays.
Coming back into Preston it loses the 7.59pm, 8.59pm, 9.59pm, 10.59pm, 11.59pm services.
On Sundays, all services are stopped for the 150.
Running from Preston to Burnley via Blackburn, stopping in Hoghton and Higher Walton.
On Mondays to Saturdays the 152 loses the 9.18pm and 10.18pm services on the Burnley to Preston route.
On Sundays the 8.28pm and 9.28pm services end.
For the Preston to Burnley route the 10pm and 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays disappear.
On Sundays, the 8pm, 9pm and 10pm services go.
Running from Preston Bus Station out to Lango, Whalley, Clitheroe and onto Skipton it loses all Sunday services in both directions.
What do you think about the changes to the bus services? Will the changes impact you? Let us know in the comments below
Image credit to George D Thompson