Valley’s rural bus services spared axe after campaign

Following campaigns run by local councillors and Bolster Moor Community Association, officers at Metro have confirmed that they have revised their proposals to cut services from rural areas of the Colne Valley.

Metro, as part of a review in the South Kirklees area, had proposed removing evening and weekend 303 services running to Scapegoat Hill and Bolster Moor and the 346 Wilberlee and Wellhouse service which would have affectively left residents, including many young and older people, without public transport in some of the most challenging terrain in the district.

Colne Valley councillors, Nicola Turner and David Ridgway, helped gather 500 signatures opposing the proposals and Bolster Community Association also ran a petition which was presented to Metro.

The Liberal Democrat councillors says they have now been informed by Metro that, in light of the feedback, they have now amended their proposals and will retain both services.

Coun Turner said: “We are very pleased that the campaigns run by ourselves and Bolster Moor Community Association have been listened to by Metro.

“Cutting these services would have left people facing real difficulties if they didn’t own a car which is totally unacceptable. The terrain in these areas is challenging to the majority of people while the pavements – if there are pavements – are narrow and poorly lit which would have increased the risk of a tragic accident.”

Funding cuts mean Metro has less cash to spend on services.

Coun Ridgway said: “We are aware that Metro has to look to save money at this moment in time, but they have to choose wisely which, in this case, they have, following a massive effort from local people to get their points of view across.”

A Metro spokesman said: “Earlier in the year Metro consulted local people about proposed changes to bus services from this October, which form part of a review of publicly funded bus services throughout West Yorkshire. We received a lot of useful responses from people in the Scapegoat Hill, Bolster Moor and Wellhouse area and we have been able to revise our proposals to take their concerns on board.”