£262k a year to keep bus running

Lincolnshire County Council says it’s putting in £262,200 to keep a Spalding bus service running.

The Spalding Into Town service is set to be run by Black Cat Travel and includes an expanded timetable to include Holland Park, Johnson Hospital and Springfields.
Previous operator Brylaine told The Voice in July it was ‘stepping back’ from the service after stopping running the Saturday buses from the start of this.
Black Cat took on that service and is taking the full running after Bryaline submitted a notice of cancellation in early August.
Lincolnshire County Council says it’s ‘stepped in’ to ensure the service’s future by pledging £262,200 a year to keep running and it’s also said it’s working with a local developer on funding, though declined to say which one.
A spokesman said they were currently ‘negotiating a contribution’.
The buses are set to run 7am to 5.25pm Monday to Saturday with the timetable available from www.lincsbus.info or Travelline.
Coun Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: “Unfortunately, the previous operator was no longer able to run the Spalding Into Town bus service as a commercial route, so we’ve stepped in to fill the gap for our residents.
“After putting the contract out for tender, Black Cat Travel are the new operator for the next two and a half years.
“The improved service will benefit more residents and businesses in and around Spalding. Not only will it run longer hours, with buses operating from 7.30am Monday to Saturday – more than an hour earlier than before – but it will also service more locations, including Holland Park, Johnson Hospital and Springfields Retail Centre.
“Improving connectivity throughout the county is a key priority for us because reliable, good-quality bus services are key to keeping people in the county moving and also reducing the number of cars on the road.
“The public transport network is facing significant challenges, primarily passenger numbers not returning to pre-Covid levels. That’s why we’re working in partnership with the county’s bus operators to create routes that meet residents’ needs while also being financially-viable for bus operators to run.
“We recognise the importance of the county’s bus services and are working in partnership with the county’s bus operators to ensure the financial support we can offer is enabling the most important services to continue running.
“We also offer a dedicated transport helpline to assist passengers in finding the best travel solution for them, with our CallConnect service working alongside bus services to meet residents’ needs.”