Fight stepped up to save bus service

A petition to save a “lifeline” Burnley bus service for the elderly from the axe has been signed by more than 1,500 people.

The Express revealed last week that the number 65 service, which serves elderly and disabled residents in the Clifton Farm and Crow Wood Avenue area of town, along with other subsidised routes across the borough, is set to be scrapped as Lancashire County Council bids to save £65m. over the next two years.

Liberal Democrat councillor Tom Porter, who is ward councillor for Whittlefield with Ightenhill and set up the petition, said he was grateful to everyone who had pledged their support.

He said: “A massive thank you to all the people who have signed our ongoing petition to save the number 65 bus. For the last three weeks myself and other Lib-Dem colleagues and volunteers have been knocking on doors within the Whittlefield with Ightenhill Ward asking people to sign our petition. At present we have approximately 1,500 signatures. We have also had the petition in various shops in the area and the market hall in Burnley. Again a big thank you to the owners for allowing us to do this.

“Really when you think about it this is not just talking about possibly cancelling a bus service it becomes a lifestyle change for the affected people.

“A lot of residents in my ward depend on this bus service to enable them to get into town but it is not just about that. In an age where we are told about loneliness and its effects the bus service gives people the opportunity to get out and meet other people.

“In this so-called caring modern age we should look for a way to keep this number 65 service because in this ward of Whittlefield with Ightenhill there is no alternative to this public transport to enable elderly and vulnerable people access to the town’s shopping areas and banks.”