Bus boss to look at options for village
Lincolnshire Free Press - Tuesday, April 19th 2011
MP, John Hayes met the boss of bus company Norfolk Green in a bid to win a change of heart over the company's decision to pull the plug on most services visiting the centre of his home village, Moulton.
Norfolk Green managing director, Ben Colson, has agreed to look at options suggested by the South Holland and The Deepings MP - but says he will not discuss them publicly until he has again spoken to Mr Hayes.
With the exception of three daily services, Norfolk Green cut out the 'dog leg' into Moulton after Lincolnshire County Council axed its subsidy for the company's Sunday services.
By agreement with the county council, the company kept the Sunday services goig because losing them would have hit 800 passengers - compared to around 60 for dropping the daily visits to Moulton village centre.
Buses still go along the main road at Moulton - picking up and dropping off passengers - but the only services for the village centre are an 8am pick-up for students going to George Farmer Technology College at Holbeach, the 9.58am going to Spalding and the 12.40pm from Spalding.
Villagers raised a petition to object to the bus services being withdrawn, saying it was too fr for elderly passengers to walk to and from the main road.
Speaking after his meeting at Mr Hayes' home, Mr Colson said: "We understood where each other was coming from. I have given John a commitment that I will look at certain options."
Mr hayes said he was delighted Mr Colson agreed to meet him.
He said: "People - particularly those who find difficulty walking - need a regular bus service.
"The local councillors and I will press to ensure they get one."
Reduction on bus services in Moulton
It's been brought to the attention of myself and fellow ward members - Cllr Anthony Casson and Cllr Andrew Woolf that Norfolk Green are intending to drastically reduce the bus service in Moulton.
At the moment, Norfolk Green run 10 buses per day through the village of Moulton. After the 9th April, they are going to reduce this service to only one per day.
We are all in agreement in that we consider the bus route through Moulton village to be a critical part of people's everyday life. A letter has been sent from all three Ward members to Norfolk Green requesting them to reconsider their proposal.
What the three District Councillors are requesting is a compromise namely that Norfolk Green reduces the 10 buses per day to 4 buses per day (two in the morning and two in the afternoon) . This, we believe, would suit everybody.
Race Against Time to Save Village Bus Route - Spalding Guardian - Thursday, March 17th 2011
CAMPAIGNERS are calling for a surge of support to save their village bus service, which is set to be cut next month.
Norfolk Green will stop most of its 505 Spalding to King's Lynn buses from going into Moulton from April 9 as it faces up to a big drop in its subsidy from Lincolnshire County Council.
Stephanie Liquorish (63) started a petition to fight the cuts and has been joined in her battle by MP John Hayes, who lives in the village and South Holland District Councillors, Anthony Casson, Andrew Woolf and Rodney Grocock, who all represent the ward.
Mrs Liquorish handed over more than 500 signatures to Mr Hayes on Saturday and is continuing to collect names at the doctor's surgery, village store and hairdressers.
The changes would leave many villagers having to walk up to the A151 to catch the bus - with just a school service and mid-morning shopping bus still passing through the centre of Moulton.
Coun Casson said: "It would be a big blow if we were to lose it. It's over a mile to the end of Bell Lane and people coming from Spalding will have a dangerous road to cross.
"And people expected to carry their shopping all that way? It's ridiculous.
"I think Mrs Liquorish has done a great job. We have got to continue to get the message out now. Unless people speak up soon they will lose it."
The final petition is due to be presented to Norfolk Green by the end of the month.
Coun Casson says he hopes campaigners can agree a compromise with the bus firm and save at least some of the services that are currently on offer.
He says the proposed cuts effectively take ten services a day down to one or two and he hopes that a strong message from the village can secure two services in the morning and two in the afternoon.
Coun Casson added: "I can understand them cutting it down because their funding has been cut.
"It was nice to have ten services but it wasn't going to last - we can't stick out for something that we know isn't going to last."
Coun Casson believes that the fact that Lincolnshire County Council is currently carrying out roadworks to boost safety along the A151 is evidence that the road is a hazard and will be dangerous for people trying to cross to walk down into Moulton.
Last week we revealed that Norfolk Green decided to axe most of its Moulton services as a result of its funding cuts and the rocketing price of fuel.
Managing Director, Ben Colson, said that the county council had originally withdrawn its funding for Sunday services - but Norfolk Green took the decision to reduce its Moulton service instead because it said that affects 60 'passenger trips' compared to 800 for the whole route on Sunday.