Michael Mullaney calls for money saved from HS2 to be spent on bringing back vital local bus services in Hinckley and Bosworth

Lib Dem Councillor Michael Mullaney is making the call for the return of the bus services said “Residents miss the number 1 bus service that served much of Hinckley and Earl Shilton and the number 2 bus service that served parts of Hinckley and Barwell. When the 1 and 2 were scrapped I was contacted by many elderly residents in Hinckley, Barwell and Earl Shilton who could no longer catch the buses. Whilst the 1 and 2 bus services stopped near their homes the other bus services only stopped on main roads in Hinckley, Barwell and Earl Shilton which were often a long walk from their homes.

“Equally the scrapping of the 159 Hinckley to Coalville service was the only bus service that a number of villages like Stapleton and Cadeby had. It was also the only service that linked places like Barlestone, Market Bosworth and Newbold Verdon to Hinckley, which made it convenient for people needing to do shopping and banking in the town.

 “When the government said that it was cancelling HS2 stage 2 it said the money would be spent on bus and rail services in the Midlands and the North. Given that Leicestershire is the worst funded County in the country by the government it’s only fair that we get a fair share of this transport money for our local bus services.

“I have written to Leicestershire County Council requesting that part of the money for transport being given by the government go towards putting the numbers 1, 2 and 159 buses back on the road. Money from the government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan could be directed at getting these essential services restored. I have been in contact with bus operators who are potentially interested in running the services if they are restored.

“Bringing back the numbers 1,2 and 159 bus services would be welcome news for many residents in Hinckley, Barwell, Earl Shilton and local villages.”