Fernwood residents to benefit from new bus services

A new Saturday bus service has been launched giving residents from Fernwood the chance to get into Newark.

Bus operators Travel Wright and Nottinghamshire County Council are trialling the new 341 service on Saturdays to establish its popularity.

It travels along Dale Way leading to Goldstraw Lane and then around the Manners Road Estate in Balderton.

Bus operators Marshalls have also responded to requests from residents for more services. Its 90 Fosseway Flyer service has been extended to serve Fernwood and it is now running two hourly Sunday return service into Nottingham via Newark starting at 8.30am from the Tawny Owl. The last bus leaves Nottingham at 7.40pm.

Marshalls say the new services for commuters wanting to get into Newark and Nottingham are already proving popular, The Number 90 has added two early morning buses from the Tawny Owl Monday to Friday at 6.50 and 7.20. They return to Fernwood at 5.45pm and 6.25pm.

Fernwood resident Julia Smith has been instrumental in getting the improvements and said that since the village was built bus services have been extremely limited.

"It is hoped that these new services are all well supported so the demand for a more comprehensive provision can be proven," she said.

Mr Neill Mison, who represents the village on the district council, thanked Julia for her work with the bus companies.

"I would like to thank Travel Wright and Marshalls for extending the existing bus services to better serve Fernwood," he said.

He said that since the start of the development nearly 18 years ago Fernwood had been served by erratic public transport services.

"Myself and many others over the years have been fighting for a better deal for Fernwood as regards bus services," said Mr Mison.

"As a heavy user of public transport myself I would like to see these extended bus services become popular and viable. Hopefully many people will take up the benefits of the new services."

The deputy chairman of Fernwood Residents Association, Mr Ian McGregor, said they were very pleased to see the new bus services coming to the village especially the first ever Saturday service.

"We congratulate Julia Smith on her persistent endeavours in bringing this to fruition," he said.