MP and councillor step in to try and save Windermere bus service
South Lakes MP Tim Farron and Windermere Bowness North Councillor Colin Jones have stepped in to try and protect a much valued community bus service in Windermere.
Tim has this morning written to Philip Halliwell, the Managing Director of Blueworks Private Hire, asking him to keep the service running past November 1st. That is the date that bus subsidy ends for every service throughout the county.
The 597 bus route sets off from Windermere station and travels through the Droomer Estate, Windermere Park and Goodly Dale and then back through town to the station. The bus does numerous journeys every morning, a service that is much valued by the residents and shoppers who use it.
In the last few days Tim has been contacted by many residents who are worried about the future of the service. Tim has asked for 'precise details of the future of this service together with any advice as to whether I could help you to maintain this route.'
Tim hopes to be able to reassure local residents that the service will continue after November and build on his success of saving the 532 Cartmel Peninsula circular bus service last week.
Tim said: "I am working with local Windermere councillor Colin Jones to protect this route. Local bus routes are lifelines for many people and residents are concerned about what will happen to their local service after the subsidy is removed. I am working incredibly hard on this and in conjunction with residents and councillors like Colin, I hope we can protect another bus service and build on the success we had last week with the 532 service on the Cartmel Pensinsula."
Windermere Bowness North councillor Colin Jones added: "This is something that local residents are really concerned about and is a top priority for me. In the last few days I have been lobbying people to try and protect this service. I know many of the people that use it and I will keep doing all I can to keep it on the road."