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Rural services are hit

28th November 1981
Page 12
Page 12, 28th November 1981 — Rural services are hit
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

THE GRANT of a road service licence to independent bus firm Yeowarts to run a Whitehaven town bus service has led, as predicted, to another operator-cutting services.

National Bus Company subsidiary Cumberland Motor Services has carried out its threat and announced the withdrawal of five loss-making rural bus routes and the cutting back of one other.

The NBC subsidiary had warned that the overturning of a Traffic Commissioners hearing decision not to grant the Yeowart's licence could result in the loss of rural services by damaging the company's profit-making network.

Cumberland Motor Services regrets that quite large numbers of people in rural areas will suffer hardship. While representations on the matter have been made to the Department of Transport, Cumbria County Council tried to give the services a temporary reprieve but found it impossible to offer additional revenue support after November 28.

CMS says that there is no way it can afford to operate these rural services at its own cost as it has a strict financial target and is suffering loss of income owing to the Yeowart's competitive service being superimposed on its own Whitehaven town service.

Cumberland general manager Peter Townley has said that if passengers who suffer hardship because of the route withdrawals care to write to him, he will make sure copies of the letters are passed on to the relevant authorities.

"Whilst it is not for me to hold out any false hopes that CMS can offer any solutions, as this is one of the first cases of its kind under the Transport Act 1980, we feel it important for the results of the Yeowart appeal decision to be widely understood," he said.


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