Bus cuts could send fares soaring to more than double, passenger warns

Carole Crane is angry that bus service are being cut in Ollerton and could mean her transport bill to work more than doubling. Carole is pictured at her bus stop on Briar Road.

Cuts to bus services could see passengers paying more than twice the price to travel between towns, it has been claimed.

From August, the number of daily direct buses between Ollerton and Newark will be cut by three-quarters.

The move means those who regularly use the service may have to hop on connecting buses at Tuxford.

Travelling time will not only be increased, but the cost could also rocket for some.

Carol Crane, from Ollerton, works part-time at Morrisons supermarket in Newark.

The 51-year-old catches the bus from Church Circle in Ollerton twice a week at a cost of £4.70 return – but under the new timetables, she could be forced to wait at Tuxford for an hour for her connecting bus.

And the cost will now leap up to more than £11 for a return.

Mrs Crane, who has worked at the supermarket for more than 17 years says the cuts are a real blow, particularly to people like herself who don’t drive.

She “I use it twice a week, but there are some who use it seven days a week.

“I’ve lived in Ollerton for 28 years and there’s always been this bus service.

“We only found out about it last week and we’re shocked.

“I’m really angry about it, a lot of people won’t even know this is happening.

The bus is provided by Newark-based Travel Wright, but after its subsidy from Nottinghamshire County Council was withdrawn, director David Wright says it has little choice but to cut the service.

He said: “I sympathise with the passengers and we would love to support them, but it can no longer be run commercially – it would be financial suicide.”

A council spokesman said: “Due to Government funding reductions, the council has seen its budget reduced by £212 million since 2010. This has put unprecedented pressure on all council services.

“We have held consultations with bus users and parish councils regarding the future of bus services.

“Through liaison with the communities and partner organisations, we have been able to offer a range of travel opportunities at a significantly reduced level of financial support.”