March 28, 2018 9.38 am This story is over 72 months old

Lincoln St George’s no 5 bus to stop running in May

PC Coaches and Lincolnshire County Council couldn’t agree on subsidies.

The bus service for the West Parade and St George’s area will stop running at the end of May after PC Coaches served notice to the county council over the “unsustainable” route.

The number five service currently links Lincoln to the Ermine Estate via locations including Carholme Road, West Parade and St George’s Hospital and will go out to tender for a new operator later in the week.

After an agreement on a new, more sustainable route could not be reached with the county council, PC Coaches requested to cancel the services to West Parade, but to keep the St George’s with the current level of subsidy.

The Lincolnite understands the subsidy for the service is in the region of £1,272 a month for the service Monday to Friday and £95 per Saturday.

People using this service could be left with no bus services bringing them to the city centre.

PC Coaches told The Lincolnite: “Following the latest review of our network of local bus services, it was clearly apparent that the St. Georges link could not be sustained in the long-term, based on the current patronage and financial subsidy provided by Lincolnshire County Council.

“Following dialogue between the local authority and ourselves, we proposed alternative timetables for consideration which were regrettably deemed not suitable.”

Anita Ruffle, Transport Services Group Manager at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The county council couldn’t justify paying the same amount for a reduced service and also doesn’t wish to see West End residents left without access to a local bus service.

“We will be going out to tender for a new operator later this week, so will be able to update on the situation in early May once we have received and reviewed all bids.”