[T]HE Friends of the X112 community group have hit out after a Government body told the operator of the X112 and X70 they needed to find thousands of pounds over the next week.
Traffic Commissioners have told operator Blueworks that they must have £16,750 in their bank account by 9th July. Blueworks operate the popular X112 service from Barrow to Coniston via Ulverston, and the X70 service around Ulverston.
The community group have now launched an emergency appeal to raise the money, and are asking local residents if they could make a loan or donation to help keep the bus service on the road.
Chair of the Friends of the X112, Janet Willis, said: “This money isn’t to keep the service going, the Traffic Commissioners just want it sat in Blueworks bank account.
“We have worked really hard as a local community to keep these vital services running, after the Government cut the funding to the local council that was used to subsidise them. Now it feels like the Government are pulling the rug from under our feet.
“This money represents almost a quarter of the funding we’ve raised since October 2014 – and we’ve spent all that money on keeping the services going.
“Communities up and down the country have lost bus services, and we’ve been determined to keep ours – surely the Government should recognise that effort and not insist on the operator keeping such a large amount of money in their bank account.”
The Friends of the X112 was set up in October 2014, and has since raised over £70,000 for the services which has carried over 90,000 passengers in that time. Alongside the vital services carrying local residents and tourists, the group put on social events and quizzes both to raise money and help relieve social isolation.
For further information contact the Chair of the Friends group, Janet Willis at janetwillis@greenoddpo.plus.com
