Rosetta residents hold meeting over scrapped bus service

A public meeting has taken place in east Belfast concerning the scrapping of the Number 85 Citybus service in Rosetta.

Residents in the area claim they have lost their only direct public transport link with vital services on the upper Ormeau Road, including doctors' surgeries, local library, post office and banks.

Attending last night's meeting were Alliance councillors Naomi Long and Michael Long, who called on Government to rethink their public transport strategy and increase subsidies for services which are less profitable, but which provide vital links to public services.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Long said, "Tonight's meeting clearly demonstrates the strong local support for public transport in the area. Unfortunately, those who are most committed to and dependent on public transport, including older people and those with restricted mobility, are losing connection with vital services as a result of current policy of concentrating resources on a small number of core routes.

Naomi Long added, "Whilst we understand the rationale behind the current strategy of Translink, as they try to improve services on a limited budget, I believe that the Government must recognise that older people and those with restricted mobility are being disproportionately disadvantaged."

Meanwhile, residents in a Co Down village have hit out at Translink after a local bus route was moved to a nearby carriageway which they claim is putting their lives at risk.

Translink drivers are not collecting southbound passengers in Loughbrickland because of ongoing road works on a nearby dual carriageway even though passengers are meant to be picked up in the village.

Local people say they are now being expected to walk half a mile to queue just feet away from the fast-flowing traffic on the dual carriageway.

A spokesman for Translink said the company was keen that passengers be facilitated within the village especially since the beginning of a new school term in a couple of weeks time.

A decision is expected to be reached before the end of the month.

(MB)