Bentham bus cuts will leave locals ‘more isolated’
Cuts to bus services between Bentham and Lancaster will only leave residents more isolated, a councillor has warned.
Councillor Linda Brockbank, who represents the Bentham ward on Craven District Council, said journey times will double from one hour to two hours under changes coming into force from April.
She warned the changes will “significantly affect the residents of Bentham and north Craven, further isolating the communities there”.
Speaking at a meeting on Tuesday, councillor Brockbank also asked Craven District Council to look into the journey times as a “matter of urgency”.
The changes were announced after bus operator Stagecoach withdrew from commercially operating routes in the area.
Since then, Lancashire County Council and North Yorkshire County Council agreed to fund services and announced a new set of routes and timetables to be operated in partnership with Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire from 4 April.
Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire will continue to operate their existing routes from the Lune Valley to Ingleton, Settle and Skipton, which operate in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council.
However, the times will be revised to fit around the new services.