CHANGES TO BUS ROUTE TO HELP KEMPSTON RESIDENTS

Bedford Borough Council, working in partnership with Grant Palmer, is delighted to announce changes to the 68 service to improve services for Kempston residents.

Following a commercial decision to make changes to two services for Kempston, the Council received a petition from residents concerned there was no longer a link between Ampthill Road and Kempston Road. Since then, officers from Bedford Borough Council have been working closely with councillors for Cauldwell and Grant Palmer in an attempt to find a solution to the issue.

The number 68 route, operated by Grant Palmer and introduced earlier this year to serve Stewartby, will now be slightly rerouted as it travels through Kempston. It will run via Bunyan Road and Spring Road and will also loop via Henderson Way to serve the bus stop on Elstow Road, which is no longer used by the number 1 service.

Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "Together with local councillors I have been working to find a solution to the needs of those Kempston residents who have suffered from the cancellation of their bus service. Working together with Grant Palmer, we believe we have delivered a solution which addresses many of the residents concerns."

Local Councillors said: "This is a triumph of councillors, officers and Grant Palmer listening to residents and working together for the good of local people. This new service goes some way to filling the missing link created by the cancellation of the previous bus service and provides regular bus services for local residents which they can use to get to work, school and into Kempston town centre."

"Grant Palmer has done an excellent job of putting the service back into bus service and I am sure local residents will welcome these changes."

Grant Palmer, added: "I am delighted we have been able to find a solution to help the people affected by the recent bus changes in Kempston and Cauldwell.

"Furthermore, under 16's will travel for free on Saturdays and throughout the school holidays. I look forward to working for the people of Kempston and Cauldwell in the New Year."

The service will start on 4th January 2011.