Windermere and Bowness Summer Shuttle takes off

At 12.00 noon on Saturday 24 May 2003, Cumbria County Council launches the Windermere and Bowness shuttle bus service. Invited guests will join the bus at Braithwaite Fold Car Park to travel the bus' route, finishing at Windernere Lake Cruises pier. There they will sail away for lunch during a 45 minute cruise on lovely Lake Windermere, before returning to Braithwaite Fold car park on the shuttle bus. 

The service is funded by a successful Rural Bus Challenge bid of £292,000 and a grant from South Lakes Local Committee. County Councillor Anne Parker, Chair of South lakes Local Committee says, 

"I am delighted to be invited to travel on the shuttle bus for it's first run on Saturday. I am sure that the service will be well used. Cumbria County Council aims to protect and sustain the environment and is committed to build on innovative locally based and accessible transport solutions to help achieve this goal." 

A stakeholder working group led by County Councillor Joan Stocker, local member for Windermere, has driven through the scheme. She says, 

"The new service will run every weekend and daily during school holidays from 24 May to 2 November. The buses will run every twenty minutes between Braithwaite Fold Car Park and Windermere Railway Station, starting at 09.01 in the morning through to 17.56 in the evening. The new service aims to reduce the impact of circulating traffic, enhance the use of car parking facilities and reduce reliance on the car. `Mountain Goat' has been awarded the contract to run the service. This service is smart, accessible and attractively priced. I wish it every success."