Workers bus fears allayed

The future of an underused rural bus service looks uncertain after a council admitted it will have to pick up the bill when Government subsidies run out this month.

Rumours that The Sherwood Sweeper and The Boughton Boomerang were set to be decommissioned have been quashed by Nottinghamshire County Council, but it admitted a review will include consultation with users before any service changes could happen.

The Boomerang, a fixed route service that links Ollerton village, New Ollerton and Boughton with industrial estates on Boughton Road and Newark Road, was launched in March, 2005 but has not proved successful.

The Sweeper was introduced in September 2005 as a demand responsive service booked two hours in advance by telephone. It has proved more successful, attracting around 750 passengers a month.

The council received £647,000 from the Government’s Rural Bus Challenge money to introduce the service.

Concerns were raised by Ollerton and Boughton Town Council that it was underused and not enough money was being raised from fares to maintain it.

The services were re-launched a year after their introduction to try to generate more interest, but this has proved largely unsuccessful.

The leader of the town council, Mr Ben Wells, said: “It is very useful to local people and we would feel severely let down if it were withdrawn.

“People need to be encouraged but if the county council is picking up heavy tabs for the cost, there is a strong possibility we could lose it.”

A county council spokesman said: “The bus services, Sherwood Sweeper and Boughton Boomerang, will not be ending.

“These two services are being funded by government grants until March 31.

“In the short-term the county council will pick up the funding with the aim of keeping the services long-term.

“In the coming months the county council will consult bus users and community representatives before reaching a decision on any changes.”