Changes to bus services in Kendal

Cumbria County Council is considering providing financial support to retain a number of bus services in Kendal, which are under threat. 

Stagecoach North West has announced that from 13th April there will be changes to several services in the town following a decline in the number of people using local routes. The company say that due to the reduction in the number of customers since last April, some routes have become unviable. 

Services 42 Kendal to Heron Hill, 43 Kendal to Sandylands and 45 Kendal to Burneside are being reduced to hourly throughout the day and Stagecoach no longer wish to operate service 46 Kendal to Collinfield without subsidy. Services 41 Kendal to Oxenholme and 44 Kendal to Hallgarth will continue at their present level. The County Council is currently looking into whether funding can be found to retain half hourly frequencies on service 42 and 43 in mornings and early afternoons. The council is also looking into subsidising a replacement for service 46. 

Stagecoach Managing Director Nigel Barrett said he regretted making cuts in the network. He says:   

"We were forced to change our network last April due to the new traffic system which made it difficult for buses from the east of the town to access Stricklandgate. Many people found these changes inconvenient and although services to Stricklandgate were restored in October, customers did not return to the services. This is obviously disappointing." 

Mr Barrett said he was pleased to announce other changes including improvements to service 555 Lancaster to Kendal to Keswick and 505 Windermere to Coniston on Sundays and Bank Holidays during the summer. There will also be a later weekday service from Kendal to Keswick. 

Councillor Kevan Wilkinson, County Council spokesman for transport, said:   

"This is a serious situation. The County Council is trying to encourage people across the county to use public transport in a bid to reduce the number of cars on our roads. Any moves that affect this goal can only be seen as bad news. We are trying to do all we can to come up with ways of reinstating some of those threatened services and encourage people back onto public transport." 

Councillor Anne Parker, Chair of South Lakes Local Committee, says:   

"The County Council wants to see a vibrant public transport network in and around Kendal and hope that over the next year we will be able to work with Stagecoach and other public transport operators to develop services that are more attractive to residents and visitors. The Committee next meets on March 12th and will consider giving financial support for the 42, 43 and 46 services. I hope that if this is approved, it will be possible to retain frequency on daytime services on these routes for the time being."