Lincoln service saved

Lincoln’s Walk and Ride minibus service, linking the uphill and downhill shopping regions in the city, has been saved from withdrawal thanks to a new deal. Previously operated by the City of Lincoln Council, the bus’s future came into doubt after it decided it could not afford to run it after having to deal with £3m in cuts in funding from central government. The Council has gifted the two vehicles used on the service to Lincoln BIG, a local business improvement group, who will now run the service in partnership with PC Coaches until September 2015.

Lincoln’s Walk and Ride has been in operation in the city since June 2001. After the council announced its problems in funding the service, no tenders for it were received, so in May it agreed to consult with Lincolnshire County Council and Lincoln BIG on the implications of closing it and the possibilities of finding alternative funding.

Chief Executive of Lincoln BIG, Matt Corrigan, said, ‘There is still a shortfall in funding to make the service viable long term and we hope to achieve this from sponsorship and advertising revenues, as well as seeking a level of donations from customers – many of whom have indicated that they are willing to make a small contribution rather than lose the service. We also hope to boost passenger numbers by promoting the service heavily to tourist visitors.’

MD at PC Coaches, Peter Smith, said, ‘PC Coaches is pleased to be working in partnership with Lincoln BIG to save the Walk and Ride service. We have a long way to go in the coming months, it is now down to the residents of Lincoln to support this service.’