Statement

EASIBUS DECISION IN BANGOR JUMPED THE GUN SAYS WEIR

Posted on: December 21, 2009

“The decision by the Department of Regional Development to propose to axe its Easibus services in Bangor have caused great distress and worry to many people locally. While the decision to axe the first two routes has been postponed for a month for further consultation, after extensive lobbying by customers, Omnibus and elected representatives, it has become clear that the original decision seems to be ill judged, rushed and inequitable. In answer to an written Assembly question, the Department has indicated that of the sixteen Easibus routes throughout Northern Ireland, the only routes that were threatened with the axe in January were two of the routes in Bangor. The other two routes in Bangor are now scheduled to end until June, as is the one in Londonderry, while the eleven routes in Belfast are only being reviewed in early 2009. 

All this begs a number of questions. Why were initially decisions taken which singled out and disadvantaged Bangor ahead of anywhere else in the country? Why were decisions about all of the Easibus routes not taken at the same time? Clearly the initial decision to axe two Easibus routes in Bangor was taken in a piecemeal and ill conceived fashion. To axe these routes will not only inconvenience some of our most vulnerable citizens, by placing an increased burden on the Door to Door service it is not even cost effective. The whole plan is not only ill judged it is shambolic and ill thought through. DRD have at least the sense to postpone the decision. They now need to show more sense and use this breathing space to reconsider and withdraw their plans to shelve Easibus.”