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Anger as Northumberland rural bus service shuts while big players prosper Anger as Northumberland rural bus service shuts while big players prosper
(about 3 hours later)
At 66 years old, Duncan Foster thought his hitchhiking days were over. As a young lad growing up in Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria he would regularly thumb a lift to watch football matches as far away as Leeds (60 miles as the crow flies). At 66 years old, Duncan Foster thought his hitchhiking days were over. He would regularly thumb a lift to watch football matches as far away as Leeds (60 miles as the crow flies) as a young lad growing up in Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria.
But as a pensioner, now living alone in the nearby village of Whittington, he was happy to rely on the bus to go for a few pints with old mates back in Kirkby. With 111 services passing through the village each week, including one handily timed around last orders, he could maintain his social life without drink-driving – or forking out £6 for a taxi for the three-mile journey to and from Kirkby.But as a pensioner, now living alone in the nearby village of Whittington, he was happy to rely on the bus to go for a few pints with old mates back in Kirkby. With 111 services passing through the village each week, including one handily timed around last orders, he could maintain his social life without drink-driving – or forking out £6 for a taxi for the three-mile journey to and from Kirkby.
All that changed in April, when Lancashire county council drastically cut bus subsidies, which resulted in Whittington suddenly receiving just five buses a week, all one-way. Foster was outraged. But instead of sulking at home – or switching to soft drinks at the pub and take the car – he decided to start a one-man protest. All that changed in April, when Lancashire county council drastically cut bus subsidies, which resulted in Whittington suddenly receiving just five buses a week, all one-way. Foster was outraged. But instead of sulking at home – or switching to soft drinks at the pub and taking the car – he decided to start a one-man protest.
He paid £8 for a hi-viz reflective jacket on which he had printed “lift please – no buses”, and stood at the largely dormant bus stop with his thumb out hoping to be picked up. It nearly always worked, with the retired building site engineer getting lifts from friends and strangers alike. He paid £8 for a hi-vis reflective jacket on which he had printed “lift please – no buses”, and stood at the largely dormant bus stop with his thumb out hoping to be picked up. It nearly always worked, with the retired building site engineer getting lifts from friends and strangers alike.
Less intrepid residents unable to drive find themselves stuck at home or have been forced to move, he said. “I know one gentleman had to move because he needed to get to Kendal for hospital appointments. Another lady who has problems with her eyes can’t get anywhere now.” Less intrepid residents unable to drive find themselves stuck at home or forced to move, he said. “I know one gentleman had to move because he needed to get to Kendal for hospital appointments. Another lady who has problems with her eyes can’t get anywhere now.”
Whittington is far from the only village affected by bus cuts. This week, Department for Transport statistics on local bus passenger journeys in England for the 12 months to March 2016 reported a 2.6% decrease to 4.53bn, compared to the previous year. Bus mileage in England fell by 2% over the year, “largely due to a 12.3% decrease in mileage on local authority supported services in England outside London”. Whittington is far from the only village affected by bus cuts. This week, Department for Transport statistics on local bus passenger journeys in England for the 12 months to March 2016 reported a 2.6% decrease to 4.53bn, compared with the previous year. Bus mileage in England fell by 2% over the year, “largely due to a 12.3% decrease in mileage on local authority supported services in England outside London”.
Most bus services in England are provided by private companies since the industry outside the capital was deregulated in 1986. This allows commercial firms to bid only for the most profitable routes, with local authorities generally subsidising the less lucrative services. Most bus services in England are provided by private companies since the industry outside the capital was deregulated in 1986. This allows commercial firms to bid for only the most profitable routes, with local authorities generally subsidising the less lucrative services.
However, massive cuts to council budgets have prompted councils in some areas – including Stockton, Darlington and Wrexham – to cut subsidies altogether. In Cumbria, the bus budget is now zero, down from almost £1.84m in 2010/11. More than 68 routes have been affected since 2014/15, meaning many people in Cumbria have been cut off completely with little or no public transport available, according to the Campaign for Better Transport. However, massive cuts to council budgets have prompted councils in some areas – including Stockton, Darlington and Wrexham – to cut subsidies altogether. In Cumbria, the bus budget is now zero, down from almost £1.84m in 2010-11. More than 68 routes have been affected since 2014-15, meaning many people in Cumbria have been cut off completely with little or no public transport available, according to the Campaign for Better Transport.
In Northumberland national park two years ago one enterprising young local decided to set up his own bus company to service his remote part of the country. Steve Hurst, from the market town of Rothbury, started Spirit Buses “to plug a gap” in the Coquetdale valley.In Northumberland national park two years ago one enterprising young local decided to set up his own bus company to service his remote part of the country. Steve Hurst, from the market town of Rothbury, started Spirit Buses “to plug a gap” in the Coquetdale valley.
But on 5 November, the Spirit Bus will make its final journey after carrying 50,000 passengers in its two-year life. Hurst is throwing in the towel after accepting he could not continue to offer a service that paid him no salary. Almost 31, he still lives with his parents. According to his dad, Rich, who runs a deli in Rothbury, he draws no salary and relies almost entirely on “the bank of mum and dad” to survive. His parents even make him his daily packed lunch. “I’m in debt, let’s put it that way,” said Hurst on Friday, talking on hands-free as he drove the bus.But on 5 November, the Spirit Bus will make its final journey after carrying 50,000 passengers in its two-year life. Hurst is throwing in the towel after accepting he could not continue to offer a service that paid him no salary. Almost 31, he still lives with his parents. According to his dad, Rich, who runs a deli in Rothbury, he draws no salary and relies almost entirely on “the bank of mum and dad” to survive. His parents even make him his daily packed lunch. “I’m in debt, let’s put it that way,” said Hurst on Friday, talking on hands-free as he drove the bus.
Hurst had hoped to win another contract to run a service between Morpeth and Rothbury, opening up economies of scale that would have made his two rural routes financially viable. But Northumberland council awarded the contract to Arriva, saying it offered better value for money, despite Hurst having run a 100% reliable service for the previous year, compared with Arriva, which had a reputation for frequent breakdowns and delays. Whether out of spite or thoughtlessness, Arriva celebrated by changing the timetables so that its buses no longer linked with Spirit’s at the key interchange town of Morpeth, resulting in a drastic fall in custom for Spirit.Hurst had hoped to win another contract to run a service between Morpeth and Rothbury, opening up economies of scale that would have made his two rural routes financially viable. But Northumberland council awarded the contract to Arriva, saying it offered better value for money, despite Hurst having run a 100% reliable service for the previous year, compared with Arriva, which had a reputation for frequent breakdowns and delays. Whether out of spite or thoughtlessness, Arriva celebrated by changing the timetables so that its buses no longer linked with Spirit’s at the key interchange town of Morpeth, resulting in a drastic fall in custom for Spirit.
“I feel tremendously sad to be packing it in. I love this community,” said Hurst. “It’s very tight-knit and everyone has done what they can to help me, whether giving donations, or my engineer, who has given his time for nothing.”“I feel tremendously sad to be packing it in. I love this community,” said Hurst. “It’s very tight-knit and everyone has done what they can to help me, whether giving donations, or my engineer, who has given his time for nothing.”
But he’s frustrated that the law allows big operators like Arriva to cherrypick the best routes. The bus services bill going through parliament should address this, he said. “Of course you do need the big operators but you can’t expect little independents to put on these lifeline services and not make a profit while the big operators make loads. Either the big operators need to be told that they have to also operate the lifeline services, or the independents need more help.” But he is frustrated that the law allows big operators like Arriva to cherrypick the best routes. The bus services bill going through parliament should address this, he said. “Of course you do need the big operators, but you can’t expect little independents to put on these lifeline services and not make a profit while the big operators make loads. Either the big operators need to be told that they have to also operate the lifeline services, or the independents need more help.”
Passengers are sorry to see Hurst give up. “Spirit Buses will be a huge miss on our roads,” said one regular on Spirit’s Facebook page. “You did a community service not just a bus service. I have seen you deliver parcels to outlying villages, you provide weather reports & beautiful photos. Very best wishes for the future Steve & thank you.” Passengers are sorry to see Hurst give up. “Spirit Buses will be a huge miss on our roads,” said one regular on Spirit’s Facebook page. “You did a community service, not just a bus service. I have seen you deliver parcels to outlying villages, you provide weather reports & beautiful photos. Very best wishes for the future Steve & thank you.”
Another remarked on how Hurst had recently stopped the bus to administer first aid to a road traffic accident victim.Another remarked on how Hurst had recently stopped the bus to administer first aid to a road traffic accident victim.
Back in Whittington on Friday afternoon, Foster needed to get back to Kirkby Lonsdale, having left his car there on Thursday night. He decided to leave the tabard at home, sharing a taxi with local retired couple John and Maureen Keegan, both 76, who now make just one weekly shopping trip into Kirkby Lonsdale each Friday because of the bus cuts. On Friday morning John had put the finishing touches to a homemade timetable he and Foster had devised, which proposed altering existing services in the Lune Valley to give four services a day instead of just one.Back in Whittington on Friday afternoon, Foster needed to get back to Kirkby Lonsdale, having left his car there on Thursday night. He decided to leave the tabard at home, sharing a taxi with local retired couple John and Maureen Keegan, both 76, who now make just one weekly shopping trip into Kirkby Lonsdale each Friday because of the bus cuts. On Friday morning John had put the finishing touches to a homemade timetable he and Foster had devised, which proposed altering existing services in the Lune Valley to give four services a day instead of just one.
Buses are a lifeline for villages like Whittington, said Keegan, which has lost its pub and has a pop-up post office which opens for just two hours a week in the village hall. “Nowadays there are an ever decreasing number of services in rural villages, with shops, post offices, GP practices and pubs shutting down all the time. Buses have never been more vital for people to access these services elsewhere.” Buses are a lifeline for villages like Whittington, said Keegan, which has lost its pub and has a pop-up post office that opens for just two hours a week in the village hall. “Nowadays there are an ever-decreasing number of services in rural villages, with shops, post offices, GP practices and pubs shutting down all the time. Buses have never been more vital for people to access these services elsewhere.”