Angry residents slam Chesterfield and North Derbyshire bus service changes – as concerns raised over school and work transport

North Derbyshire bus service changes, announced by Stagecoach earlier this week, have sparked anger and concerns among residents.

Many have been left worried about transport to work and school – with some calling for buses to be brought back under public ownership to avoid similar cuts in the future.

Particular concerns have been raised about Service 74/74A no longer serving Woodthorpe and Service 90/90A withdrawn beyond Staveley, meaning it will no longer Markham Vale, Clowne and Creswell.

Maria Martin said: “I’m not happy. My daughters school is on the bus route, I live two miles from the school.

"I’m disabled and I also care for my mum who is blind and deaf, who luckily lives near the school.

"I need the 74 to run regularly. It is very busy so why they are making them hourly? I don't know as it serves four schools, five when it goes to Woodthorpe.”

Donna Wright, has raised further concerned about the changes to 74 and 74A service.

She said: “They are always busy.

“What happens to the people who rely on the 74/74A to get to and from work or college and school?

"This is the only bus for Inkersall. You can’t expect everyone to walk down to Ringwood to get a bus which some of us have to do as you have taken the early bus off and last bus is at 5.15pm which is hit and miss if it ever turns up.”

Barbara-Ann Crawford added: “Trying to get home from work in Inkersall is already a nightmare after 8pm. I don't know how this is going to make it any better!”

Another resident, Chelsea Phillips, has raised concerns over changes to Service 90.

She said: “So the 90 will no longer be going through Shuttlewood?

"Children rely on that bus to get them to and from college in Chesterfield.

"The only other bus through the village is 53 every two hours that goes Mansfield way?!”

Others have slammed the proposed changes calling for buses to be brought back under the public ownership.

Josh Rex said: “Bus services should be taken back into public control.”

Allistair Lomax added: “This is a direct consequence of having a public transport system based on a privatised company that is only interested in generating money for its shareholders.

"We need a publicly-owned transport network run for the good of our communities. Renationalise now!”

John Colbridge commented: “There was a time when bus services were frequent and cheap and everyone used them.

"Now they are infrequent and expensive and less use them. It is cheaper for me to use my car than public transport.”

Arthur Brown added: “An affordable reliable public transport system is an essential item of infrastructure in a civilised country.

"It is needed so that workers can get to work and allow companies to make a profit, to take children to school, people to hospital appointments and shoppers to the shops.

"The idea that everything, including public transport, should be profit making is a Thatcherite myth.”

The changes, announced by Stagecoach earlier this week, are set to be put in place on Sunday, October 25, with the bus operator claiming the move was necessary due to ‘low ridership’ and ‘rising costs’.