Vital meeting in fight for Taxi-bus service

Jan 16 2008 by Emma Davison, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

COLNE Valley people battling to save their Taxi-bus service from the axe are having crunch talks with transport representatives this evening.

They are campaigning to save the service after West Yorkshire transport co-ordinator Metro said it was withdrawing its cash backing for it.

The Taxi-bus, which links up with other bus services and trains at Slaithwaite, is said to provide a lifeline for people in rural areas, particularly the elderly and schoolchildren.

In a last-ditch attempt to save the service a meeting is being held with Metro representatives at Slaithwaite Methodist Church, starting at 6pm.

At the meeting residents will get the chance to air their concerns about axing the service and discuss other ways of providing transport.

Since the Taxi-bus service was introduced in 2005 it has become vital to many people living in the Colne Valley area.

The seven-seat vehicles connects Slaithwaite railway station with all parts of the village and the hamlets on the north side of the valley.

There are two buses, one on a fixed route and another which can detour up to half-a-mile off route to pick people up closer to their homes.

Passengers can also phone to make an off-peak journey from door to door in the area between Slaithwaite and Outlane and through the hilltops west of Golcar and east of Marsden.

Money for the service runs out at the end of March and campaigners fear they will lose their vital transport links.

Colne Valley councillor Nicola Turner said: “After the money runs out we don’t know what’s going to happen.

“A lot of residents rely on the service, not just people doing their shopping but also the kids that take the bus to school.

“It provides a lifeline for them.

“Metro says that not enough people are using the service.

“But you can’t expect a lot of people to use it because it’s a rural community.

“It’s still a really important community service and it shouldn’t be about profit.

“It’s also important because we’re trying to discourage cars in the valley as it’s difficult to get around in them and park.’’

Clr Turner added: “We want to get people on to the buses and this is a backwards step.”

She admitted that the service had had its problems, including a lack of publicity about the scheme.

This had led to less people using the service.

She said she hopes such problems will be addressed at the meeting with Metro to try and come up with a solution.

Clr Turner is encouraging residents to attend tonight’s meeting, which has been organised by local resident Tony Bowers.

She said: “This meeting is of huge importance to residents in the Colne Valley. It would be a tragedy to lose such an important service.”