County Council saves Kendal town services

Today, Cumbria County Council's South Lakeland Local Committee agreed to fund Kendal Town Centre bus services to the tune of £10,000 as part of a £20,000 support package to protect the services in Kendal town centre. The move came after Stagecoach announced its intention to reduce the frequency of three Kendal Town services from half-hourly to hourly. 

The services (Services 42, Heron Hill, 43 Sandylands and 45 Burneside) were due to reduce on 13 April and service 46 to Collinfield was due to be withdrawn. County Councillor Anne Parker, Chair of South Lakes Local Committee says, 

"I am delighted that the Committee has been able to protect these services for local people. I believe that the effect of a reduction in these services would ultimately have led to them becoming economically unviable and being withdrawn. 

We have agreed short-term support combined with a joint campaign to promote bus services particularly as an alternative to using the car. Promotion is being discussed with Stagecoach and the appointment of a project officer from the Council's Local Transport Plan (LTP) capital funding will support this work." 

It is important that the County Council's contribution to Kendal Town Centre bus services is reviewed later this year with a view to further funding for 2004/5 ensuring that all efforts are made to stabilise the local bus network.