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Local bus service threatened

9 March 2009

West Derbyshire MP Patrick McLoughlin has expressed his concern over the decision by Baslow based bus provider Henry Hulley & Sons, to withdraw the service through Ashford in the Water.

Patrick took this matter up with the Directors of the firm, having received a number of letters from concerned people in the Highfields area of Ashford.

Patrick commented,

"In a reply sent to me from the Directors of the Company, it has been confirmed that Hulley and Sons have applied to cancel this service from April 2009, citing the rise in fuel and changes to concessionary fares as leading factors behind this decision.

"This is very disappointing news which I am sure will come as an enormous blow to so many elderly residents in Ashford in the Water who need this service to carry out basic daily tasks, such as visiting the doctors or dentists, picking up groceries or visiting friends and relatives.

"However, I have also written to the Minister for Transport and the Cabinet Member for Highways at Derbyshire County Council to ask about this decision and to see what possible action can be taken to ensure this vital service continues to run."