Morton Residents Left Stranded Without Bus Service

Strategic Insights -

The village of Morton in Derbyshire has been without a scheduled bus service since Hulleys of Baslow ceased trading in March, leaving residents, including the elderly, disabled people, students, and those commuting for work or appointments, isolated and vulnerable. The number 55 bus, which was a vital lifeline for the community, was rerouted by Notts & Derby Buses, leaving Morton without a regular bus service. Campaigners, including the Morton Parish Council, have been appealing for help to reinstate the service, but Derbyshire County Council has ruled out support due to the high subsidy required.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number 55 bus service, which served Morton, was rerouted after Hulleys of Baslow ceased trading, leaving the village without a regular bus service.
  • Residents, including the elderly, disabled people, students, and those commuting for work or appointments, have been left isolated and vulnerable without the bus service.
  • Derbyshire County Council has ruled out supporting the reinstatement of the service due to the high subsidy required.
  • The council's highways chief, Cllr Charlotte Hill, has said that despite efforts to find an operator, no solution has been found to replicate the previous scheduled commercial service.
  • Travel on Demand Derbyshire, a minibus service, is available but is not a substitute for a regular bus service, according to campaigners.
  • The East Midlands Combined Authority has committed £2 billion in transport funding to address challenges faced by rural communities like Morton.
  • The Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, has promised to launch a public consultation for the Mayor's Transport Plan, which will address the issues faced by people in Morton and other rural communities.

Statistics:

  • 75-year-old villager Val Hatton has said that she and other elderly residents struggle to walk across fields to catch a bus from Stonebroom, which slows them down in winter.
  • Cllr Funnell has noted that the withdrawal of the number 55 bus has left many residents isolated, unable to reach essential services, employment, education, and social activities.
  • The East Midlands Combined Authority has allocated £2 billion in transport funding for the Mayor's Transport Plan to address challenges faced by rural communities.
  • The Travel on Demand Derbyshire minibus service is available from 7am to 7pm, Mondays to Fridays, and from 8am to 5pm, on Saturdays.

Sources:

  • Derbyshire County Council
  • Hulleys of Baslow
  • Notts & Derby Buses
  • Travel on Demand Derbyshire
  • East Midlands Combined Authority
  • Bolsover Labour MP Natalie Fleet
  • Morton Parish Council Chairperson John Funnell
  • The Derbyshire Times