Ruddington residents have until Monday 4th March to comment on proposals to axe two popular Localink buses that serve our village. The L22 and L23 services are our only direct links to West Bridgford town centre, Gamston, Lady Bay and Clifton village, and also serve other local areas including Wilford, Silverdale and Clifton estate.
Nottingham City Council, which operates the Locallink bus network, had previously announced that fares would be introduced on the services, which are currently free to use, from 31st March 2019. However, the Council has now gone a step further and is proposing that both the L22 and L23 be withdrawn altogether, along with several other Localink services, to help it find £22m of savings in 2019/2020.
Parts of the L22 and L23 route are covered by NCT 3 and 10 services, but less so since NCT withdrew off-peak and Sunday services for the 3 in January. However, there are several local areas that would no longer be accessible by bus from our village.
Rushcliffe Borough Councillor, Jean Greenwood, commented: “So many Ruddington people use this service to access Rushcliffe Borough Council Contact Centre on Rectory Road, and call into the banks, as we no longer have any in Ruddington. They also use the service to get to Lings Bar (in Gamston) for medical treatment, and it brings people into Ruddington from Silverdale and Wilford, so it would be a great loss.”
To comment on the City Council’s proposals, please email pt.operations@nottinghamcity.gov.uk by Monday 4th March.
With thanks to Graham Wright and RUDDINGTON.info