North-West Bedfordshire Villages Lose Evening Transport Lifeline

Residents in north-west Bedfordshire villages have lost their only evening bus services after the county Council's decision to scrap the HomeHoppa service. The complete withdrawal of the HomeHoppa, which serves 19 villages in the evenings from Monday to Saturday, will leave most rural communities in North Beds with no means of travelling to or from Bedford via public transport after 5.55pm.

Commenting on the issue, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Harrold Ward Cllr Nick Charsley said:

"This is a cruel blow to residents in rural north-west Bedfordshire who are already extremely poorly served by public transport. The removal of the HomeHoppa service cuts off a lifeline for people who use it for work or leisure purposes.'

"The HomeHoppa served residents from a wide area of rural north Bedfordshire, all of whom will now be faced with having to drive or use a taxi to access Bedford Town Centre in the evening. Many will simply not be able to travel to and from the town in the evenings at all.'

"In addition to cutting down work and leisure opportunities for rural residents, this move will be damaging to the environment and will increase rural and town centre traffic by forcing more people into their cars. It will also encourage a greater number of residents across north-west Bedford villages to look outside Bedford Borough for employment and cultural activities, which can only harm the local economy.'

"The County Council's continued support for the 125 and 126 daytime services is to be welcomed, however. These essential services for north-west Bedford villages need protecting, and it is a great relief that they will be retained for the foreseeable future."

The HomeHoppa service provides evening transport to Bedfordshire's North-West villages for the cost of a bus fare, with a minibus running hourly from Bedford from 8pm until late evening from Monday to Saturday. It also allows residents in the villages who pre-book seats to travel into Bedford in the evening. The service will be withdrawn completely from Sunday June 8th. Rural bus users have received some good news, however, as the County Council has confirmed that it will continue to support the 125/126 service which runs between Bedford and Rushden, serving north west Bedford villages in between.