Last updated at 15:20, Monday, 02 July 2012

IMPROVED rail and bus services would stop the Millom community feeling so isolated, a councillor has claimed.

As part of Cumbria County Council’s Travel Strategy, parish councils are being asked how transport services might be improved in their communities.

The strategy will aim to provide a link between central government travel plans and those at a county level.

Speaking at a meeting of Millom Town Council, Councillor Reg Heathcote said Millom Town Council should use the opportunity to make a case for improved rail and bus services out of the town.

He said: “We should ask the county council to support a Sunday rail service.

“It would be good for tourism and would help people without cars from feeling isolated.

“We should also ask for improved bus services to West Cumberland Hospital, in Whitehaven, from Millom.”

It is thought to be more than 30 years since a Sunday rail service ran in Millom.

Rail franchises are set to be renewed from 2013 and councillors are hoping a strong lobby from the town could convince Northern Rail, which runs services on the Cumbria coastal line, that there is demand to support the service.

Bus services to Whitehaven from Millom only run on a Sunday.

Councillor Felicity Wilson added that Millom residents suffering from some forms of medical conditions had to travel even further north than Copeland, further strengthening the case for better transport links.

She said: “There is a lot of dementia care that takes place up in Workington, which is even more isolation for those members of the community.”

Cllr Wilson said the county council should look into improving transport links between Millom and Allerdale.

Cllr Wilson also suggested the town council write to the county council to ask for a bus passes to be reinstated in Millom.

Councillor Janice Brown, the mayor of Millom, added: “We have got to go to Barrow to get a bus pass.

“A lot of the Millom pensioners aren’t computer literate so doing it online isn’t an option. It is just another thing that has been taken away from us.”

First published at 13:05, Monday, 02 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk