ALMOST 200 people have vowed to save two rural bus services ahead of funding being withdrawn by Cumbria County Council.

A PACKED public meeting saw 190 people agree to subsidise the under-threat services – the X12 connecting Coniston with Ulverston as well as the 11 which connects villages between Ulverston and Barrow. They are currently set to be axed on October 18.

“The meeting was very positive,” said Phil Halliwell, who runs the Blueworks bus company, which currently operates the number 11 service.

“I proposed to combine the two services into one new service and with a show of hands, 95 per cent of those in attendance said they would contribute to help the service survive.”

The 11 route carries thousands of people every year between Barrow and Ulverston, stopping at Roa Island, the coast road and Baycliff along the way.

The X12 service, between Coniston, Greenodd, Torver and Ulverston, is a ‘lifeline’ for people living in parts of rural South Lakeland.

“Without them it would mean some people would be totally isolated,” continued Mr Halliwell.

“Some people in those villages are miles from their nearest big town and they would either have to pay for taxis or be forced to buy a car.

“Surely We should be encouraging people onto public transport, not away from it.”

Now a steering group is to be set up to manage the service, with monthly donations from local people set to be collected in a specially set-up bank account.

The steering group will also look at ways more people can be encouraged to use the service – with tourists, commuters and college students all set to be targeted.

The subsidies on the services are being dropped as part of Cumbria County Council’s cost-cutting measures, as it attempts to save £89 million by 2017.