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New bus service for rural area
STRANDED residents living in Chorley's rural village areas are set to be thrown a lifeline with the introduction of a new bus service.
Lancashire County Council is funding a three-month initiative ferrying people living in Brindle, Withnell Fold and Hoghton into the town centre every Tuesday from August 31.
The bus is expected to pick up in Brindle at 9.30am and will give villagers three hours to visit stores and the market in the town.
And, depending on how well the scheme is used, it could be rolled out permanently across the area.
Hoghton parish councillor Marel Hurry said: "We have got lots of elderly people living in Hoghton and Brindle and shoppers who are infirm or have other reasons for not being able to get into Chorley.
"For them this is a lifeline because there are many services such as the library which we cannot use.
"We feel like we are in the sticks or out on a limb and cannot get into town without a service like this."
Coun David Dickinson, who represents Hoghton and Brindle, said: "Currently the links to Chorley aren't good for people so they are going to places like Blackburn or Bolton.
"I will certainly be using it and I hope that more people decide to as well."
Darren Cranshaw, chairman of Brindle Parish Council, said: "We feel quite remote from Chorley, which is our nearest town.
"It's great news that there is going to be a new bus service taking people to Chorley town centre.
"I'd urge local residents to make the most of the new service and use it or lose it."
Coun Peter Malpas, who oversees the vitality of the town centre for Chorley Council, said: "It's great news that Lancashire County Council is putting on this extra bus service to bring people into Chorley from some of our outlying villages on Tuesday market day.
"It's good for traders and businesses in Chorley as it will bring more people into town adding to the buzz and atmosphere of market day, and it's good for residents from some of our more rural villages who can come in and take advantage of what Chorley town centre has to offer."
Tim Gornall, group manager for bus services at Lancashire County Council, said: "The county council is running this bus service every Tuesday for the next three months, until November 30, to assess demand."
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Weather for Chorley
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
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