The reduction in the No.2 bus service’s route has affected a great number of people in Barrow. Jane Hunt MP gives an update on the situation.

Trent Barton, the parent company of Kinch, has estimated the costs to run a service to Leicester, or to Birstall Park & Ride (where passengers can travel on to Leicester) to be almost £200,000. The No.2 is a commercial route, so that money has to come from somewhere.

Leicestershire County Council is unable to provide funding. Jane Hunt’s discussions with local businesses have “proved fruitful” but, she says, there is still a significant financial gap. She has requested that some of the financial contributions made by housing developers to Charnwood Borough Council can be used to fund the service and is awaiting a response. Perhaps our borough councillors can help with this.

Leicestershire County Council offers a pre-booked taxi or minibus service (called Demand Responsive Service). If you live more than 800 metres from a bus stop you will be taken to a bus stop where you can join the bus or other public transport network for a cost similar to that of a bus ticket. Jane is currently in discussion with the county council to see if this service could be extended. 

She is also talking with a local bus company about the possibility of a bus route from Loughborough, through the Soar Valley, and on to Leicester. However, some form of subsidy would be needed, so negotiations continue with local businesses and organisations to see if they would consider helping to subsidise the routes.