BUS passengers in Kendal are facing service cuts and increased fares this month despite moves to encourage green transport in the town.

Kendal's main bus service provider Stagecoach said changes to the town's traffic system last year saw a drop in custom and it no longer wishes to subsidise services.

The new Kendal traffic scheme was designed in part to help drivers make the "modal shift" onto public transport but bus bosses say they now have had fewer customers than before.

From April 13 most daily and weekly ticket prices will increase by an average of seven per cent while some busses will run less frequently.

Cumbria county councillor Dave Clarke, of Kendal, said it was very "disappointing " news and called on stagecoach to show commitment to Kendal.

"There is no one big solution to Kendal's traffic problems. We need to find ways of reducing the amount of traffic coming into the town through park and ride and better public transport. "The solution is the responsibility of CCC and Stagecoach and I think Stagecoach should take some share of the blame. Kendal is getting a raw deal."

Managing director of Stagecoach North West Nigel Barrett said he regretted making reductions in the network but was disappointed passengers had not returned to buses, despite the fact services had been restored to Stricklandgate in October last year.

He said most ticket prices had remained unchanged for more than a year but the company continued to face cost increases well ahead of the normal rate of inflation.

Changes to the new timetables, include:

l Reduced services for the number 42 Heron Hill and 43 Sandylands.

l Reduced services on the 45 Kendal Burneside bus, which will now run hourly.

The move comes in the wake of fears that the threatened number 46 Collinfield bus would be scrapped by Stagecoach.

The news was greeted with dismay by elderly shoppers who rely upon the number 46 to get into town and, last month, CCC stepped in with £10,000 to save the 46 along with £10,000 to ensure the 42 Heron Hill and 43 Sandylands would run half-hourly at peak periods.

The 46 Collinfield will be replaced by two new subsidised services running Monday to Saturday: the 47, Wattsfield Road- Collinfield, and the 48, Brigsteer Road-Vicarage Drive.

April 11, 2003 09:00