New bus boost for Wyre and Fylde districts

A number of communities across Fylde and Wyre are to benefit from the creation of new subsidised bus service.
Lancashire Country Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport John Fillis has introduced measures to help bus passengers in areas of Wyre and Fylde.,Lancashire Country Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport John Fillis has introduced measures to help bus passengers in areas of Wyre and Fylde.,
Lancashire Country Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport John Fillis has introduced measures to help bus passengers in areas of Wyre and Fylde.,

It will spell good news for residents in Great Eccleston and Elswick and also for residents living on Fleetwood’s new Harbour Village estate, off Amounderness Way.

It has been made possible by funding which Lancashire County Council secured as part of a condition when Redrow Homes received planning permission to build Harbour Village houses.

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These changes mean that Elswick and Great Eccleston continue to have bus links following the 78 service being withdrawnlast month.

The house in Renwick Avenue, where the man was found dead last OctoberThe house in Renwick Avenue, where the man was found dead last October
The house in Renwick Avenue, where the man was found dead last October

The new service, called the number 75A, runs between Fleetwood, Thornton, Poulton, Great Eccleston, Elswick, Kirkham and Preston every two hours.

The 75 and 75a buses both operate between Fleetwood, Thornton, Kirkham and Preston.

Together, they restore the hourly daytime service between these places from Monday to Saturday.

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Changes to Service 74 mean that bus connections between Fleetwood, Poulton, Kirkham and Preston with Blackpool and Victoria Hospital will also be significantly improved.

The house in Renwick Avenue, where the man was found dead last OctoberThe house in Renwick Avenue, where the man was found dead last October
The house in Renwick Avenue, where the man was found dead last October

The revised services 75/75A now also provide a new bus route linking the Windward Avenue part of the Harbour Village estate to Fleetwood and Poulton as well as connections to other public transport.

The decision to introduce the new Service 75A and make revisions to other routes was taken by County Coun John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport.

Coun Fillis said: “The changes to the bus routes are great news for people living in the Windward Avenue area, who will now have a bus connection to Fleetwood and Poulton, and to people living in Elswick and Great Eccleston, who will continue to have a bus link.

“It’s important that people can get around more easily.”

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The revived service for Great Eccleston and Elswick has been welcomed by Coun Paul Hayhurst, an independent Lancashire County Councillor for Fylde West, who lives in Elswick.

He said: “It is good news for people in these villages who had lost their bus link and would have been left socially isolated. The new bus 75a bus service is only every two hours, while the 78 was hourly, but it is still good that people have a service back. And with it being subsidised instead of an unviable commercial service, we are more likely to keep it.”

However, not everyone in Fleetwood is happy. Resident Ivor Bould says the 74 and 75 buses still miss out numerous stops in Fleetwood after controversial changes last year.

He said: “When I need to get to Preston I have to catch the tram to Blackpool and a 61 bus to Preston, because the 74 and 75 no longer call at stops near me. It takes an hour longer and isn’t good enough.”

For details visit www.lancashire.gov.uk and search for Public Transport.

Also phone Traveline on 0871 200 22 33.