End of the road for bus hopes

Published on 28th June 2007 in News

Snaith and Cowick Town Council received another knock back this week in its battle to see the Arriva 401 bus service extended throughout the town. However, councillors have pledged to continue with their bid.

Earlier this year, the council asked transport operator Arriva to consider extending the 401 service to Goole to include Pontefract Road in Snaith after a resident from the nearby Ben Bailey Homes estate complained that the bus service served only the eastern side of Snaith and not the western side, and that she had to walk half a mile from the bus stop to her home.

But after a number of inquiries to Arriva, the Town Council was once again told this week that a route re-think would not be viable.

In a letter to the Town Council Howard Robinson, fares and service planning manager at Arriva, said: "We have already looked at re-routing the service into the Pontefract Road area of Snaith.

"A diversion via Gowdall would add an additional 2.5 miles in each direction to the route, plus we would need to increase the running time for the route by about eight minutes. This would make the service less attractive to through passengers travelling between Selby and Goole, the loss of which could be more than the additional passengers gained from the new areas to be served.

"It is imperative that we maintain a viable network which serves the public, whilst at the same time has a minimum drain on the public purse."

Mr Robinson has suggested that councillors contact the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which may have access to some public funds.

In response, Cllr Danny Hennessey said: "If it's a dead end, then it's a dead end, but we should investigate all avenues."