Leaving school kids busless not an option

Transport Minister Danny Kennedy says Ulsterbus decided leaving school children without a regular bus service to Culmore following the winding up of the Lough Swilly bus company would have been ‘unacceptable.’

The Minister believes its decision to apply for an extension of its network in the city was a pragmatic solution.

He stated: “My Department was informed by Translink of local news reports that the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Company had ceased trading.

“Translink was aware that this unfortunate development would result in a significant number of people in the Culmore area, including many school children not having any bus service.”

He added: “The licence application was approved by the Department of the Environment as they currently have responsibility for the granting of bus route licences and for setting the terms and conditions attached to such licences. In the circumstances I believe this was a pragmatic solution to a potentially difficult situation.”

The Sentinel was the first media outlet to report that the taxman was seeking the winding-up of the company behind the Lough Swilly bus service earlier this year.

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