Hundreds join fight to halt bus route axe

The Stagecoach 348 and 349 service linking Mexborough, Denaby and Conisbrough, is due to stop running next month because of a lack of passengers.

More than 700 people have signed a petition calling on South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive to intervene.

Mexborough pensioner Barbara Roughton, one of the petition organisers, said: "We would have hoped to save the service but even if we can't through this petition, the number of names on it shows how people feel about losing this service.

"It is a case of people power making its point. There will be a lot of angry people when these buses go because it is a good service."

But a SYPTE spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the situation and have received the petition, however the number of signatures, whilst individually significant, is not reflected in the level of passengers using this service on a regular basis.

"SYPTE is aware that a number of people will be inconvenienced by the termination of these services. Although the retention of this service is not possible, we will continue to consider whether any other service can be provided in the future."

The service linking the three Dearne Valley towns was introduced two years ago, paid for through a mixture of Government and European grants and SYPTE funding.

"During this period it was hoped that patronage would reach a level that would allow the services to continue without further support from public funds, but unfortunately this has not been the case and a decision has had to be made to withdraw them from Saturday 1 September," the spokeswoman added.

"Over the last two years other low floor bus services have been introduced in the Conisbrough and Mexborough areas. These have greatly improved the accessibility of bus services in the area and reliability of the alternative services has also improved greatly.

"Posters have been put up on the 348/349 buses giving information to passengers about these alternatives."