A PENDLE councillor has said a second charge on Barnoldswick’s town centre buses is still continuing, despite Lancashire County Council insisting it shouldn’t.
Coun. Marjorie Adams, who represents Coates Ward, said customers are being asked to swipe their bus pass again if they opt to go on another loop of the town centre to stay out of the cold, rather than wait at the bus stop for connections or for the bus to switch from the B1 to the B2.
She told the West Craven Committee the issue needs resolving “once and for all”.
Barnoldswick firm B and J Travel took on the service from Transdev in January and Coun. Adams said she hoped that with the new company running the service, things would change.
Coun. Adams says she won’t swipe twice now “out of principle” and has called on the county council and the bus company to reach a solution.
Tim Gornall, Lancashire County Council’s bus and supported transport manager, said: “Passengers are only required to swipe their pass once on these services as the bus operates across Barnoldswick as a through service. We have reminded the operator of this.”
But director at B and J Travel, Liam Costello, said the service may not be viable if passengers didn’t swipe their card or pay again. He said in his eyes, another loop of the town centre rather than waiting for a connection at Station Road, was a second journey.
He said that were not forcing customers to pay twice and would be open to talks with the county council to resolve the issue.
Mr Costello said: “Why should anybody ride round all day and only pay a flat fare? I was told that everybody was aware that if they have two journeys they have to scan again. That’s how we inherited it.”