Pupils hit by winter bus cancellation

The service - which hugs the Antrim Coast from Larne to Portrush and beyond to Portstewart and into Coleraine - will stop on October 3.

When the service started it was all year round and was primarily designed to allow tourists to travel along the Antrim Coast which is regarded as one of the world's most scenic routes.

But because of a lack of interest in the winter months it was then decided to only run the service during the spring and summer and into early autumn.

The bus service is also used by locals and school children.

Cushendall Sinn Fein councillor Oliver McMullan asked for Moyle Council to write to Translink about the seasonal stoppage of the service.

"It will hit some families especially children attending Dominican College," he said.

Council Chairperson, Independent councillor Price McConaghy, said the temporary nature of the service is "unfortunate".

Last year when the decision to scrap the service over the winter was taken, Sinn Fein councillor Cara McShane, said it was a blow to tourism in the area.

Ballycastle Sinn Fin Councillor, Cara McShane, has said that more consultation is needed between Translink, Schools and parents in relation to withdrawing bus services.

In a new statement, Cllr McShane said: "I have been contacted by many parents of school-children who use this service to travel home from Dominican College, Portstewart.

"This bus is an essential service, taking pupils home to Bushmills, Ballycastle and surrounding areas. As a former pupil of Dominican, I can empathize with parents.

"The withdrawal of this service means that children as young as 11 years old will have to wait at least an hour and a half after school before getting a bus home.

"I have sent a letter to Translink and to the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy, to request that this service continue all year around. I have also asked the Department for information on the extent of the consultation prior to this decision being made."

A Translink spokesperson told the Ballymoney and Moyle Times: "We can confirm that the seasonal 252 Antrim Coaster Service will cease to operate on Sunday 3rd October 2010 for the winter period.

"During the periods last winter when the service did not operate, alternative bus travel arrangements were made for the children affected.

"We are re-contacting local schools to ensure that the alternative travel arrangements which were in place are appropriate," said the spokesperson.

Last year Translink announced the service was stopping for the winter "due to unsustainable passenger numbers together with reduced funding now available through the Government's Rural Transport Fund due to the increasing financial pressures across all departments."

In a letter to Moyle Council earlier this year, regarding the winter cancellation, Translink said: "We very much recognise the social value of the Ulsterbus Goldline 252 - Antrim Coaster Service - to the local community and its role in tourism.

"With this in mind we have made service adjustments to local Ulsterbus services in order to accommodate users including tourists who still wish to travel on the coastal route."