LAST Friday while travelling on our local Stagecoach bus service (93 Carlisle/Bowness-on-Solway/Anthorn) the driver informed us that as from the beginning of June there would no longer be a service on this route.

This is apparently due to the fact that the council(s) will not provide subsidy and therefore Stagecoach will not cover the route. We had no prior notification of this going to happen so could do nothing to oppose it until now.

The Government is supposed to be encouraging the use of public transport in an attempt to reduce carbon emissions but the loss of rural services goes completely against this and also does nothing to alleviate mental health issues, often caused by isolation and local of social interaction.

Only one of the 14 villages on the route has a shop so those of us who do not have our own transport and are not willing or able to use technology rely on daily buses to do our shopping as well as all other face-to-face transactions.

We can understand, but not appreciate, the economic reasons for this decision but the devastation this will cause must surely also be taken into consideration.

I hope you will be able to find a way to draw attention to this situation in the hope we can gain support in our fight to save this vital service.

Jean Mitchinson
Burgh By Sands