Extended Hours for X2 Bus Service Welcomed by Local Councillors

Local councillors representing Churchtown, Marshside and Crossens have welcomed the announcement that the X2 bus service will now run later (until approximately tea time) Monday to Saturday.

This extension to the service will allow for greater transport options for residents of Crossens, Churchtown and Marshside and reflect repeated comments from commuters who felt cut-off by the service’s earlier finishing time.

Although welcome, the areas Lib Dem councillors would like to see routes reviewed also as more development happens across the area and new communities develop. The three councillors have previously spoken to local bus companies about services running down Balmoral Drive, where a new development is currently underway.

This would allow new and existing communities to be better served while also providing a more efficient service, as a greater number of commuters are given genuine choice about how they want to travel.

All three councillors have also recommitted to protecting the existing travel passes against any plans which would see eligibility restricted or removed.

Councillor Gareth Lloyd-Johnson said,“This is positive step and pleasing to see but there is more that can be done. Our transport systems need to develop as our communities do and a proper review of routes, with a view to expanding services to the areas where an increasing number of people are is a very sensible next step.”

Councillor Lauren Keith added, “We are big supporters of public transport and encouraging people to use it but we have to have a system that is a plausible and convenient alternative to diving and that means having routes which reflect where people are and the places that they want to visit. Relatively minor tweaks to current routes could make a huge difference.”

Councillor John Dodd said, “Bus services are vital to our communities. Not so long ago, we had a half-baked plan from our then MP which would have put us into a different council area with absolutely no plans to maintain the existing travel passes. Our residents can be absolutely sure, we will never vote for any plan that would take away the travel passes.”