Councillor calls for vital local bus route to be saved
A Hinckley County Councillor has called for a vital local bus route serving the town and many local villages to be maintained.
Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Hinckley De Montfort Michael Mullaney raised the issue at the Leicestershire Full Council meeting on Wednesday 7th December. Speaking at the meeting Michael called on the Conservative leader of the County Council, Nick Rushton not to cut support to the 159 bus service that runs between Hinckley and Coalville.
Michael Mullaney explained the importance of the service "The 159 serves Hinckley, it also serves many local villages. Many people particularly in rural areas rely on the service. The 159 is the only bus service that serves Stapleton for example. It is also one of only a few buses that serve villages like Newbold Verdon, Market Bosworth and Barlestone. A number of people rely on the 159 for work, education and shopping. To lose the service would for many people be a huge loss.
"I hope the Conservative County Council will not cut the 159 bus service as part of their planned package of cuts at the County Council"
A Hinckley County Councillor has renewed calls for a safe road crossing to be installed near a Hinckley School.
Lib Dem Councillor for Hinckley De Montfort Michael Mullaney has campaigned with local parents, residents and fellow Hinckley Councillors David Bill and Stuart Bray to get a safe crossing near St Peter’s School on London Road, Hinckley.
This follows news that Leicestershire County Council have again decided against putting a crossing there.
In a written submission to the County Council’s Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee Michael Mullaney set out why a crossing was still needed there
“A huge number of residents in the area I represent on the County Council and the area my two fellow Hinckley County Councillors David Bill and Stuart Bray represent support a safe crossing at St Peter’s School on London Road in Hinckley. 8,850 residents signed a petition supporting the campaign.
“There are safety concerns, there have been a number of near misses involving pupils and parents going to the school. Although not recorded it is believed that there was an accident leading to a fatality some years ago along this part of London Road when a pedestrian was knocked over.
“Whilst I appreciate the extra road safety measures that are proposed for London Road near St Peter’s School I am extremely disappointed that the request for a safe road crossing has not been supported in the report.
“There is widespread support for it and Cllrs Bill, Bray and myself identified funding for putting a crossing in at the site through the Members Highway Fund, a fund which was developed with the apparent intention of supporting Highways causes that were important in Councillor’s local areas.
“Whilst it’s welcome that a crossing person has been recruited for St Peter’s School there is always the risk that the person may step down from the job and it may be difficult to find a new person (as it took some years to recruit a crossing person there, with no school crossing patrol between 2017 and 2022 despite attempts to recruit to the post). A safe pedestrian crossing at the site however would be a permanent safety measure that would benefit pupils and parents and residents more generally crossing the road there.
“Whilst I welcome the fact there will be some safety improvements at the site I and many residents believe there still needs to be a safe permanent crossing at St Peter’s School. I therefore urge the County Council to rethink and agree to installing a crossing near St Peter’s School”
