A group championing the use of local bus services has celebrated its 10th birthday with an event at Lancaster Town Hall.
The Lancaster Bus Users Group has grown over the past decade into a strong voice lobbying for new, better and more joined-up bus services across the district.
Councillor Abi Mills, mayor of Lancaster and key founder of the group, welcomed members and supporters to the town hall for the celebratory event on October 24.
Jim Davies, chair of the group, gave a presentation on some of their achievements, including developing a website that contains maps and timetables for every bus route in the Lancaster District as well as advance information of forthcoming changes, publishing two maps of bus services showing all operators' buses in a single document, and securing the future of the number of bus services: including the number 18 bus to Williamson Park/Moorlands/Standen Gate areas; the number 33 bus (now the 6B/6C) linking Morecambe, Branksome and Bare following a proposal to withdraw it in 2016; and the reinstatement and improvement of bus services in the Lune Valley to Kirkby Lonsdale.
“In addition to the impact we have had, the Bus Users Group has grown its membership year on year, and we have developed good working relationships with Stagecoach and the County Council," said Mr Davies (pictured below with Councillor Mills).
The group produced a Bus Service Improvement Plan for Lancaster in 2021, elements of which were adopted by Lancashire County Council in its own plan later the same year.
Margaret Colling, a group committee member from Heysham, said: “Good bus services are essential for so many people to get to work, college, and shop.
"But I know from experience that for more elderly people the buses are quite simply a lifeline – vital for social contact and staying healthy.”
Councillor Mills said: “Over the last decade the Bus Users Group has grown as a recognised strong voice in lobbying for new, better and more joined up services in our district. It has also provided informed and comprehensive feedback to a range of public transport planning bodes about how bus services could be better provided.”
She recognised the work of all of the members of the group but gave specific thanks to Mr Davies, a former bus services manager for Herefordshire County Council, who had recently retired to Lancaster when the Bus Users Group was formed.
The Bus Users Group has a number of priorities over the next year including working with the city council to make improvements to Lancaster Bus Station, and working with local councillors to secure a bus service for New Quay Road residents.
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