Leicestershire Members of Parliament, Alberto Costa and Neil O’Brien have welcomed the steps taken by Leicestershire County Council to save the Number 58 HinckleyBus Service.
The Lutterworth to Market Harborough service, which was previously run by Arriva, was suddenly cancelled by the operator a few weeks ago prompting concerns from constituents in both Mr Costa’s constituency of South Leicestershire and Mr O’Brien’s constituency of Harborough.
The Leicestershire MPs however have welcomed the County Council’s announcement that the service will be saved and put out to emergency tender, meaning that there will be no stoppage in the service when Arriva’s contract expires in mid-July.
Alberto said, “I am very pleased to learn of the County Council’s very welcome intervention in saving this vitally important bus service. The proposed cancellation of the Number 58 has understandably caused a great deal of concern to my constituents in South Leicestershire and likewise to those in Neil’s constituency”.
Harborough District Ward Councillor for Misterton, Councillor Jon Bateman, added, “I am very grateful to the County Council and our local MPs, Alberto and Neil, for their assistance with this matter. The bus service is a vital link for many residents living in my ward, and I am sure they will be relieved to hear this very good news”.
MP for Harborough, Neil O’ Brien added, “This is a really important service as rural services such as these are often the only service operating in some villages and are some constituent’s only means of being able to travel, so I am delighted that the County Council have taken these steps to safeguard this service for the future”.