The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The slashing of a local bus service has led to some people being unable to take part in a weekly health walk, an organiser has claimed.
The timings of the Donington Free Health Walks, which have been going for over a decade on Tuesday mornings from the village, were decided so anyone could get the bus to and from the walk.
However the recent cutting of the K59 bus service by operator Brylaine has led to some being unable to get according to the walk’s organiser Eddie Finch.
Local GPs have been recommending attendances to patients and every week around 50 members plod three different routes of varying length from The Ruby Hunt Centre in the village.
In a letter to the Voice and Lincolnshire County Councillor Michael Brookes, Mr Finch said: “Members of our local thriving Donington health walking group are now not able to attend the health walks due to the reduction in the bus service timetable.
“Walkers coming from the Swineshead and Bicker direction and also from Spalding, Surfleet and Gosberton direction are now unable to join in the walks.
“Health walks for some members are not just a social occasion but do attend weekly on their doctors’ and hospitals’ advice to help prevent life threatening illness or to aid in their recovery from many serious conditions.”
The walks start at 10.30am The latest attendees using the bus from Spalding could arrive would be 9.15am.
The only bus from Boston to arrive before the walk’s start time gets to Donington just before 8am.
Mr Finch said: “The walk’s starting times when the group formed were planned around the local bus service to be all inclusive of the surrounding communities.
“Members are now faced with the prospect of being unable to attend or relying on the generosity of others in the group offering them a lift.”
Brylaine said of the service: “The K59 is operated commercially by Brylaine, financially though as a rural service its only supported by Lincolnshire County Council on a Saturday and for travelling along one road in Boston. Sadly, the reduction of the service has been caused by lack of ridership, off peak during mid week along with a lack of funding from Lincolnshire County Council to maintain a regularly scheduled service along the main route.”
A county council spokesman said: ”Although there has been a reduction in the level of service it should meet the needs of most passengers.
“In addition, CallConnect is being used to fill in the gaps left by the commercial operation, and can provide some of the journeys previously offered by Brylaine.”
