Councillor makes final appeal to County Council to keep 159 bus service going
A Leicestershire County Councillor made a final appeal today to keep a Leicestershire bus service going. The 159 Hinckley to Coalville bus service was ended on February the 25th after the County Council ceased to subsidise the service.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats opposition on the County Council Michael Mullaney made an appeal at the County Council's Highways and Transport Committee to restore the bus service.
Michael said "A big thank you to the 2,388 people who signed the petition to keep the 159 bus service going.
This service is the only service that connects Hinckley and Coalville two of the largest towns in Leicestershire. It is the only direct service into Hinckley from many villages including Barlestone, Newbold Verdon and Market Bosworth. It is the only bus service that serves Stapleton, Nailstone and Cadeby.
I have been contacted by many people who lost out by the 159 service being lost. People who used the bus for travel to work, college, and shopping.
"At a time of a cost of living crisis a bus service can be a more affordable way of people travelling so it's not a good time to be reducing bus services.
"I urge the Conservative leadership of the County Council to make a final effort to get a 159 bus service kept going. Even if it's a reduced service at peak times in the mornings and evenings for people who need the service for work and education. Or to see if an alternative provider to Roberts coaches could run the service.
"The 159 bus service is a vital local bus route and I urge the County Council to rethink scrapping it and to find a way to get the service going again"
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”
