The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The battle to get an early morning bus re-introduced may have been won, but campaigners are now fighting a war for even better services for Spalding.
Carol Hudson and fellow campaigners had collected a petition of more than 850 signatures in their fight to persuade Brylaine bosses to reverse a decision to cancel two pre-9am Into Town services.
Even before the petition was handed over, Brylaine did a U-turn and reintroduced a 7.45am service after district and county councillor Angela Newton brokered a deal for a subsidy.
Carol officially handed over the petition to Coun Newton this week, who has invited her to Lincoln to talk to the county council about extending the subsidy.
But that will not be the end of the fight, as Coun Newton, leader of South Holland District Council’s opposition, has pledged to persuade Brylaine to further extend its services to cover areas of Spalding which are currently without a bus service into the town centre.
She said: “Bringing back the 7.45am bus to go around Holland Park and Wygate Park enabled students needing to get to the secondary schools, and workers wanting to get into town to do so without having to take their own vehicles.
“But residents off The Broadway, The Chantry, Hawthorn Bank and the Lilburn Drive area of Woolram Wygate also need this service.
“It would also be a great help if the bus was allowed into the town centre. There is room for a bus stop near the South Holland Centre and/or the layby in Hall Place.
“This would enable passengers to easily access shops, banks and chemists in that area, giving the centre of town a boost.
“I feel it is imperative the bus service is improved. The town is gradually getting gridlocked and anything which enabled people to leave their vehicles at homes must be welcomed.”
Coun Newton thanked Carol for her work collecting the 852 signatures in her petition.
She has now invited Carol to accompany her to a Lincolnshire County Council meeting in December to present the petition to chairman Coun Bill Aron before it is passed to portfolio holder for highways and transportation Coun Richard Davies.
Carol will also be given the opportunity to ask the council to continue the subsidy to Brylaine to ensure the reintroduced early service can remain.
