Derbyshire buses: Police arrive as lorries block Hulleys of Baslow premises in the Peak District – amid payment row

The future of several bus routes across Derbyshire is uncertain after Hulleys of Baslow collapsed this week – while several services have been taken on by new operators.

Hulleys ran a number of commercial services, and Derbyshire County Council has confirmed that it does not have a formal role in finding new operators for these services – as they are privately operated and run and have to be registered with the Traffic Commissioner.

The services that will not immediately be taken on by new operators include the 55 between Chesterfield and Alfreton, the 271/272 between Castleton and Sheffield and the 6 between Chesterfield and Wadshelf.

DCC said it will support residents in finding alternative travel options in the meantime, but hopes these services can be picked up soon by new operators.

Derbyshire County Council’s Executive Director for Place, Chris Henning, said: “We were sorry to hear that Hulleys are to cease trading this week, both for the company and its employees but also the many residents and communities their bus services visited. We have done all we can over recent months to support them through a very challenging period.”

DCC have confirmed that seven supported bus services were put out to tender following poor performance by Hulleys, and these services will now be run by different operators.

The new operators are:

170 – to be run by High Peak Buses and Stagecoach

110/111 – to be run by Ashbourne Community Transport.

172,173,178 – to be run by Andrew’s of Tideswell.

63 – to be run by Stagecoach Yorkshire.

257 – to be run by Linburg Coach Travel.

All services started this week and the timetables will remain the same.

On Tuesday lorries and cars blocked the Hulleys of Baslow premises at Calver Road in Baslow.

Those who gathered claimed the bus operator owed them wages and payments.

Some of the buses run by the company were stuck on the drive unable to operate.

A Hulleys of Baslow worker who was at the premises said during the protest: “It’s mayhem here. Lorries are blocking the driveway, buses are not allowed in or out. Drivers will block the drive until they get paid.”

Buses which were unable to get back to the drive queued on the road outside of the premises.

Police were called and witnesses reported that officers arrived at the scene of the incident shortly before 5pm.

A spokesperson for Derbyshire police said: “We received a report at 1.50pm that vehicles were blocking the entrance at Hulleys of Baslow, in Calver Road and that those driving them had refused to leave. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.”

One worker said workers had now been paid. The Derbyshire Times has contacted Hulleys of Baslow for comment.

Alf Crofts, director of Hulleys of Baslow, has confirmed that all wages have been paid in the evening of Tuesday, March 25.

John Whitby, MP for Derbyshire Dales, said he would be writing to the county council, Derbyshire Dales District Council and the East Midlands Mayor, to highlight the urgency of finding a quick solution for residents – and would be speaking with residents about how they are affected.

He added: “Public transport is essential for keeping our rural communities connected, and we must do all we can to keep them running.”

Chris Henning, added: “We have been concerned about the reliability of their services for some time and took the decision a few weeks ago to find other operators for the ones that the council pay for, in the hope that this would enable them to concentrate on their commercial services. Sadly this has not turned out to be the case.

“We are pleased that we have new operators for our services and are hopeful that the commercial routes they ran will be picked up very soon. We also hope that the rest of our local bus companies will be able to offer jobs to those employed by Hulleys.”