Kimes closing

Centrebus is to close its Kimes Buses operation’s depot in Folkingham, Lincolnshire. The first stages of the consultation with staff are now complete, with the ‘vast majority’ of drivers choosing to take continued employment at other sites. The majority of the services will be transferred through a rolling programme during August to other depots. The first phase of the changeover is to take place on 11 August 2013, with routes 4, 26, 27 and some occasional services transferring to the operator’s Grantham depot. A week later, service 9 will transfer to the Saxby depot, near Melton Mowbray and 12 will go to the Corby operations centre. Its 58 and 59 routes, along with five buses and some staff, will go to Brylaine Travel of Boston, Lincolnshire. This is expected to take place at the end of August, when the Kimes site is due to formally close.

Centrebus has been advised by Peterborough City Council that it intends to stop funding any of its services from the start of October 2013. It will use that date as an opportunity to review what timetable changes to former Kimes services will be necessary. The operator is working closely with the small number of staff who have been made redundant due to the change.