Gordon Urges Council To Keep Bus Route
Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden is urging both Blackpool Transport and Blackpool Council not to leave hundreds of older and disabled passengers in South Shore disadvantaged by withdrawing an important Lifestyle service around the Harrowside area.
Mr Marsden has presented a petition to Blackpool Transport from local residents protesting at plans to take the 16 Lifestyle bus away from an area where hundreds of older people live in purpose-built and sheltered accommodation and held talks with Blackpool Transport’s new boss Trevor Roberts. ‘I understand that Blackpool Transport have put alternative proposals to the Council to bring another route to cover this area, and I’m writing to the Council to urge them to support it.’
‘Without this Lifestyle bus the ability to get out, shop and live independently of a huge number of older and disabled people will be compromised. That’s why I am fully supportive of keeping this lifeline. The rerouting is being attributed to the need for overall cuts because of the alleged concessionary fares shortfall, but Blackpool Council owns Blackpool Transport and have benefited from the increased bus use of older people via their dividends. Some of that funding should be considered for alternative proposals to keep this facility open for older and disabled people in the area. Age Concern and others locally are concerned that they are not discriminated against in what should be a public service, not just a commercial one.’
