Residents Stranded As Local Bus Service Is Cancelled

Residents of the Barnes Meadow Estate in Littleborough have been left stranded after bus services were cut due to road repairs.

Buses that usually run along Barnes Meadows have been stopped until early September forcing elderly residents to struggle up and down the steep road to reach buses on Todmorden Road.

Angry residents say that no warning or information was provided by First West Yorkshire Buses and with repairs already delayed it could be several weeks before hundreds of people can access shops and medical services.

To add to the problem, anyone who does walk down to Todmorden Road to catch a bus is adding to the problem of social distancing on the services into and from Littleborough and Rochdale.

Rochdale Lib Dem Council Candidate Kate Clegg is demanding that bus operators operate a turnaround service on the estate to allow less mobile residents to go about normal life.

"The road repairs are essential but there is no reason why buses cannot run up the hill from Todmorden Road and turn back round. It's not right to anyone to struggle up that slope carrying shopping bags, never mind the need to keep our distance on buses that will now have to carry extra passengers"

She continues "The operators have given no warning that services will be withdrawn, leaving many people suddenly isolated and having to scramble around to find friends and family with cars who can drop off shopping or give lifts"

Work on the repairs has now begun some days late, but with little or no information go on, it is uncertain when services will be restored.

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