Use it or lose it …. Windermere’s 597 bus service Are you aware of this service? Could you use it, instead of your car? In the autumn, following the cancellation of all bus subsidies by Cumbria County Council, the 597 bus disappeared from Windermere’s streets. With considerable support, however, from Windermere Town Council it has been reinstated until March to see if enough regular customers can be found to keep this route viable. Whilst the initial figures look promising, Councillor Sandra Lilley points out that this really is a case of “use it or lose it”. In the first week the 597 bus carried 27 passengers, rising to 44 in the second week and 66 in the first week of January. “Our biggest hurdle”, said Cllr Lilley, “is that we are paying a set figure each day, no matter how few or many people are carried. The other major problem is that 90% or more people using this service
are Concessionary Passengers, for which the Government refunds only a proportion”. There are good points in favour of using this three-day-a-week service. It calls at Windermere Health Clinic and the Railway Station and operates on half-hour circuits, connecting well with buses for Lancaster (via Kendal) and Keswick. The full fare is presently only £2.00. The “hail and ride” route is Crescent Road with pick-up outside the Co-op, Oak Street, Droomer Driver, Limethwaite, Park Road, Craig Walk, Biskey Howe, Helm Road, then up Lake Road to Goodly Dale. After calling at the Health Centre it goes up Thornbarrow, down Park Road, Whinfield, Park Avenue, Ellerthwaite Road (library/ Marchesi Centre) and up Main Road to the Station. Unless there are sufficient passengers the bus service will cease in March.
WINDERMERE TOWN SERVICE 597 Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (not public holidays) “Hail & Ride” Windermere Railway Station
09.35
10.05
10.35
11.05
11.35
12.05
Droomer Drive
09.39
10.09
10.39
11.09
11.39
12.09
Meadow Road / Windermere Park 09.42
10.12
10.42
11.12
11.42
12.12
Helm Road
09.49
10.19
10.49
11.19
11.49
12.19
Goodly Dale Health Centre
09.50
10.20
10.50
11.20
11.50
12.20
Thornbarrow Road
09.51
10.21
10.51
11.21
11.51
12.21
Windermere Railway Station
10.00
10.30
11.00
11.30
12.00
12.30
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10,000 reasons to support Carol
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Carol scaling new heights
When Carol, our “postie”, walked through the door with mail for Windermere Now, little did she know that a throwaway remark about fundraising for charity would end with this mention in the paper! She deserves it. Carol Walthew is supporting Royal Mail’s Charity of the Year - the Stroke Association - with a personal challenge that would leave most people cowering behind their letter boxes! Carol has decided to swim 10,000 feet
in Windermere, parachute 10,000’ from an aircraft and, to “cap it all”, climb a 10,000’ peak in the French Pyrenees. You can find ot more about each of Carol’s personal challenges by going to: carols10000feettriplechallenge. wordpress.com If we rally around our local postwoman there is a good chance that we can help Carol to exceed her £1,000 target - it’s worth a try. She certainly gets Windermere Now’s stamp of approval!
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info@windermerenow.co.uk
| 015394 22040
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