Major cuts announced to Bus Eireann's Navan town service

A substantial cut in the frequency of the Navan town bus service has been announced by Bus Eireann as part of the company's cost-cutting measures. There will be cuts on all three routes in the town and Route B, which used to travel out as far as Gainstown Cross, will now only go as far as Beechmount and the Commons Road. Bus Eireann has confirmed that Route A, which takes in the Slane Road, Blackcastle and Clonmagadden areas, as well as the swimming pool, will be reduced from 13 services a day to eight, but peak time services will be maintained. Route B, which will now take in Moatlands, Clogherboy, Commons Road and Beechmount, will be reduced from 11 runs a day to four, while Route C, which takes in Kentstown, Johnstown and Kilcarn, will be reduced from 14 trips a day to nine. Cllr Jim Holloway said it was ironic that, at a time when Navan Town Council was investing heavily in infrastructure in order to promote smarter travel and an increased use of public transport, the Government intended to scale back on the very service that would help to encourage this. "This must not be allowed to happen, over the years, it has been impossible to have Bus Eireann engage actively with the public representatives who were elected to work on behalf of and represent the very people who use the public transport service. I have never found that there was a concerted campaign on the part of Bus Eireann to actively promote the use of the town bus service. Although it is my opinion that it is being well-used at this time," he said. Cllr Holloway said he was amazed at how unkept the exterior of the town buses appeared at times. "Even allowing for the routes taken and the weather, the exterior of the town buses should always be kept clean and shining each day, something that would make a huge difference. "It did not help at all that since the buses were introduced some 10 years ago, they have operated without the essential infrastructure that must go with such a service, that is high-quality bus shelters, strategically placed and well-maintained," he added. Cllr Holloway said this was the result of a major deficency in planning. "Developers weren't conditioned to provide for bus pull-ins and shelters along the sprawling estates that they built. For years, the residents of our new Navan have had to stand out in all kinds of weather with no shelter whatsoever. What way was this to either serve the people or promote the use of a public transport system? All of this points to the need for fundamental reform of the way we provide public services," he said. Cllr Joe Reilly said he was disappointed that services were to be reduced but he welcomed the fact that they would still be maintained in the town. He hoped that new traffic arrangements would mean Bus Eireann could provide a more reliable, timetabled service and that the people of the town would use it. Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said it was a pity to see the services cut, but he understood the economic reasons for the move. "Unfortunately, not enough people were using the service and it is important now that people support the services that are left," he said.