James McArthur

People who use the Walk and Ride bus service in Lincoln are being given the opportunity to voice their opinion about it’s financial future.

In a move to secure the service’s long-term viability, users of Walk and Ride will be consulted on a range of possible options to help make the bus service more financially sustainable.

The City of Lincoln Council agreed to continue running the service after support for it was withdrawn by a number of local organisations.

The Walk and Ride bus service helps connect the uphill and downhill shopping areas in Lincoln and has been operating in Lincoln since 2001.

The service has carried 74,449 passengers between 2011 and 2012 and is estimated to cost the City of Lincoln Council £65,000 a year to run and maintain.

Possible ideas for cost reduction include: increasing bus fares, reducing the route, or reducing the overall number of service hours.

City of Lincoln Councillor, Neil Murray, said: “We are doing everything we can to put the Walk and Ride bus service in a financially secure position.

“Given the reduction in funding, we need to make changes in the service to keep it going, but we don’t want to do that without knowing what the public want.”

“I hope we get lots of responses to the survey, so we can make solid decisions about the service.”

Members of the public can have their say by completing an online form on the City Council website.

Closing date for all consultations is Tuesday, August 12.

Source: City of Lincoln Council

Two Royal Air Force pilots from RAF Waddington are set to take part in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Flight Sergeant Antony Wingate and Squadron Leader Nick Davies will be representing RAF Waddington in a series of sporting events at the Olympic Games in London this August.

Antony, from Edwinstowe, is a member of the London 2012 Flag Raising Team which is responsible for leading the medal winners’ procession.

Flight Sergeant Antony Wingate said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to take part in this once in a lifetime opportunity.

“To represent the Royal Air Force in this manner is one of the proudest moments of my life.”

During the Fencing and Taekwondo events Antony’s job will be to mount the winners’ flags onto the trapeze in preparation for the medal presentation and national anthem.

The Olympic Fencing event will take place between  July 28 and August 5 and Taekwondo will run from August 8 until August 11 every evening.

Nick Davies, a tactics advisor at RAF Waddington and keen triathlete, will be managing the run and cycle course for the men and women’s triathlon events at the Olympic Games.

Squadron Leader, Nick Davies, said: “As a keen triathlete the opportunity to help organise and run the Olympics is a fantastic opportunity that is unlikely to raise it’s head again.

“It’s a privilege to work with the triathlon team which, from volunteers to full-time staff, is probably the best in the Olympics.”

The women’s Olympic triathlon can be seen on Saturday, August 4 and the men’s race can be viewed the following week on Tuesday, August 7.