Community run bus service celebrates 10 years of serving the community providing a valuable bus linking communities between Penrith and Kendal.
The service was launched after funding cuts by the former Cumbria County Council resulted in the Bus service been axed.
A petition with over 1700 signatures opposing the ending of the bus service was handed to the former Cumbria County council but the service ended leaving villages long the route without any public transport links.
A small group formed and with the support of funding by parish councils along the route has since the first 106 service departed on the 1st of February 2015 carried 64,800 passengers and has raised £278,214 in contract fees over the 10 years to provide the bus service that currently runs twice a week with Cumbria Classic Coaches operating the bus under tender to the 106 Partnership.
The 106 partnership holds an open procurement every two years, inviting bus operators to tender to run the route for the partnership in what is considered something of a unique operating model.
Operators are paid a commercial rate by the partnership, with the fares collected by 106 service used to contribute towards the cost of the services with the 106 partnership covering the service funding gap between the cost of running the service and the fares collected with finds provided as grants by parish councils along the route.
To mark the 10th birthday of the services a celebration was held in Penrith on Tuesday morning with members of the 106 partnership and passengers who use the service coming together over tea and biscuits to to celebrate its continued service overs the 10 years.
The current chairman of the 106 Partnership Adrian Todd gave a few words of thanks to the passengers and all the stakeholders who continue to support the service.
“It's fantastic. Real community effort from right across the board from Penrith to Kendal. I don't want to say anything because I'm actually proud to be involved with it. It's amazing to me.”
“You know, you wouldn't imagine it would have kept going. But where would it have been without that bus? I don't know. you can't describe.”
“They go on about mental health, Now this is this is why you should have local bus services to connect communities and ensure people can meet and travel around and that’s what the 106 Bus provides along the route and has done for the last 10years and let’s hope it does for at least another 10 years.”
Libby Bateman who was a founding member and remains part a key part of the 106 Partnership gave a short presentation on the 106 Bus and thanked then partners who have supported the service over the last 10 years, including members of the partnership group attending todays celebration inn Penrith. Chris Battersby who is treasurer of the 106 Partnership Alan Sowerby and Jonathan Davies. The group gave a round of applause to the Ali and Ian from Cumbria Classic Coaches team who run the route for the 106 partnership.
Thanks was also give to former councillor Neil Hughes who has supported the service over the last 10 years but who was unable to attend today’s celebrations after relocating to the south of France the group was told but the group wished him all the best.
The celebrations then moved onboard the 106 bus that headed to Kendal to have a second celebration of the services 10 years with a special 106 bus cake that had been made for the occasion.
The little team which has helped keep the 106 bus on the road connecting communities between Penrith and Kendal over the last decade.
L-R Jonathan Davies (Clifton), Alan Sowerby (Shap), Libby Bateman (Trustee & reluctantly acting secretary), Adrian Todd (Tebay, Orton & Chairman), Chris Battersby (treasurer), Ian Howard (Cumbria Classic Coaches driver), Neil Hughes (former Westmorland & Furness Unitary Councillor).
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