by our Guest correspondent City and County Cllr. Gina Dowding.
Cllr. Abi Mills, Mayor of Lancaster and LBUG Founder cuts the birthday cake with current Chair, Jim Davies
Lancaster District Bus Users’ Group has celebrated the tenth anniversary of its founding, when on 24th October 2014 a meeting was held at the Friends’ Meeting House in the city to investigate the possibility of setting up a group to represent bus passengers in the District.
On Thursday, 24th October this year, the Group marked its 10th Anniversary in Lancaster Town Hall, hosted by its key founder, Cllr Abi Mills, who is currently the Mayor of Lancaster.
Cllr Mills welcomed over 30 people to the event in the council chamber to celebrate the successes of the Bus Users’ Group in the ten years since she together with County Cllr Gina Dowding organised an initial meeting in response to residents’ concerns about bus provision in the district.
Mayor Abi said: “Over the last decade the Bus Users’ Group has grown as a recognised strong voice in lobbying for new, better and more joined up services in our district. It has also provided informed and comprehensive feedback to a range of public transport planning bodes about how bus services could be better provided.”
Cllr Mills publicly recognised the work of all of the members of the group but gave specific thanks to Jim Davies, a former bus services manager for Herefordshire Council, who had recently retired to Lancaster when the Bus Users’ Group was formed.
Abi added: “We are so lucky to have Jim’s expertise, and grateful to him for taking on the role of Chair.”
Jim Davies, Chair of LBUG addressing the meeting
Jim Davies gave a presentation of more than a dozen significant achievements of the Group which included:
-Securing the future of a number of bus services: the number 18 bus to Williamson Park / Moorlands / Standen Gate areas; the number 33 bus (now the 6B/6C) linking Morecambe, Branksome and Bare following a proposal to withdraw it in 2016; and the reinstatement and improvement of bus services in the Lune Valley to Kirkby Lonsdale.
-Establishing what has become a very well-used bus stop at the Crook o’ Lune to enable people to visit this popular attraction by bus.
-Developing a website that contains maps and timetables for every bus route in the Lancaster District as well as advance information of forthcoming changes.
-Publishing two maps of bus services showing all operators’ buses in a single document
Mr Davies said: “In addition to the impact we have had, the Bus Users’ group has grown its membership year on year, and we have developed good working relationships with Stagecoach and the County Council.”
Known as LBUG, with their own logo – the Group produced a Bus Service Improvement Plan for Lancaster in 2021, elements of which were adopted by Lancashire County Council in its own plan later the same year. LBUG has since been accepted as a member of the Stakeholder Forum overseeing the implementation of the Bus Service Improvement Plan.
Margaret Colling, LBUG committee member
Margaret Colling, Heysham-based committee member, who is also a life-long bus user and member of the People’s Jury on Climate Change said: “Good bus services are essential for so many people to get to work, college, and shop. But I know from experience that for more elderly people the buses are quite simply a life-line – vital for social contact and staying healthy.”
Future Priorities
The Bus Users’ Group has a number of priorities over the next year including working with the city council to make improvements to Lancaster Bus Station, and working with local councillors to secure a bus service for New Quay Road residents.
Cllr Gina Dowding said after the budget this week:
“I want to express my thanks to all the Bus Users’ Group members past and present. Not only has the group been successful in practical ways – like getting improvements made to various bus stops and shelters throughout the District and getting additional bus stops on the number 11 Marsh service, it is now well-respected by Bus Operators and the County Council for its collaborative approach to strategic planning of bus services”.
The next meeting of the Group is on Thursday, 21st November at Lancaster library, starting at 1.30pm and all are welcome.
Lancaster Bus Users' Group 