Villagers between Devizes and Pewsey Vale isolated as night bus axed (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Villagers between Devizes and Pewsey Vale isolated as night bus axed

7:00am Friday 21st May 2010

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People who use the Night Taxi Buzz are devastated that a last ditch attempt to save the service has failed.

Nine protesters presented a 202 signature petition to a full meeting of Wiltshire Council in Trowbridge on Tuesday.

The petition, organised by Kennet Passengers, called for the service to continue but the Conservative-led council said it was too expensive.

The service operates between 6.15pm and 10.15pm weekdays between Devizes and villages in the Pewsey Vale.

Suzanne Robertson and her son Nathan, 18, do not know how they will get home to All Cannings once the service is withdrawn on May 28.

Mrs Robertson, 38, works part time at Tesco in Devizes while her son is an apprentice hairdresser in Devizes.

Mrs Robertson said: “I use the Night Buzz three or four times a week while Nathan uses it every day.

“We don’t have a car in our family and I can’t afford £15 in taxi fares. I am going to have to ask my boss if I can change my hours at work.”

Kate Freeman, transport advisor to Kennet Passengers, disputed the council’s figures on running costs and said that useage would increase with better marketing.

She said: “There was no substantive debate at the council meeting. Devizes Guardians spoke up for us and the Liberal Democrats sympathised with the plight of young people but it came down to party lines.”

Coun Dick Tongue, Cabinet member for transport, said: “The issue is that the subsidy for the Night Taxi Buzz service was huge and we couldn’t sustain it.”

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