FOLLOWING the withdrawal of a number of bus services through Saltash in recent weeks, news of the introduction of two new bus services will come as a welcome relief to many passengers. Bob Hobbs of Liskeard Omnibus is running Dial-a-Bus in Saltash as part of the Lisk-Link transport scheme. The service is designed to provide transport to the town centre for those passengers who live on the outskirts of Saltash such as the waterside and Forder regions, which are often out of the reach of existing bus services. The Dial-a-Bus service has been subsidised in part by Cornwall County Council, and will run from Monday to Friday, from 7am until 7pm. One hour's notice should be given prior to travel. When requested, the bus will attempt to pick up passengers from their doors, although designated pick-up points may be established. The door-to-door service is likely to benefit passengers who live in secluded areas of the town, or those who find walking a struggle. A brand new bus is going to be available for use as part of the Dial a Bus scheme, and Cllr Baz Gregory is urging people to make use of the service, 'I really welcome this initiative and hope that it will succeed. We do not give up trying to help isolated passengers.' Mr Gregory also praised the work of Age Concern in Saltash, who offer a twice-weekly volunteer-run bus service from the Waterside into the town centre. The bus drops passengers off in the town centre before coming back to the Waterside and removes any difficulty passengers may have in scaling the steep hill on Lower Fore Street. The service has been welcomed by many passengers who feel cut off from public transport.
