Stagecoach Manchester

[Barney]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(11/03/2017 11:14)WhiteVanMan Wrote:  Unfortunately, this is true not only with-in Greater Manchester. Just take a look at Lancashire upto 12-months ago, there were villages (Arkholme & Whittington) that had a regular bus service, but are now with-out a bus service. Same is also true with parts of Northamptonshire (Yarwell & Nassington).

The recent withdrawal of most rural bus services is a result of one thing only: central government austerity measures. Since 2010, local authorities have faced huge reductions in central government grants and LA's have had to decide where to reduce the services they provide. As tendered bus services are not a statutory obligation that's where their focus has been.

I recall having a conversation with a gentleman on a similar site about two years ago who was absolutely certain that rural bus services within Lancashire were 100% safe. Within a year, Lancashire CC had no option but to withdraw all funding when £7 million was slashed from its budget.

We are now at the point where if a service cannot make a profit it will not run.