12/05/2026
Fighting back against bus cuts: Liberal Democrats hand in petition to Bedford Borough Council
Local campaigner Henry Vann has handed in a petition to Bedford Borough Council in response to the recent bus cuts, calling on the council to step up to ensure that our communities continue to be served by a regular, reliable bus service.
More than 570 people have signed the petition and Henry Vann commented, “I am being contacted almost every day by worried residents, frequently older people who cannot drive, who are devastated by these cuts. This is about basic access to shops and doctors as well as work or school. We have been working hard to push the council to work with bus companies to fill the gaps left and to lessen the impact of these cuts. They will isolate so many people, and cause frustration to those who rely on the buses for work, school or appointments.”
Stagecoach’s plans, effective from 31st May, involve routes 7, 10 and 53 being totally discontinued and other routes are being changed and reduced.
The 53 and 53A from Wootton is being cut, only part replaced by the 2W. This will mean that Hillgrounds in Kempston will lose all 8 stops.
The disappearance of the 53 and 53A also mean that the Cranfield UNO bus is now the only bus serving large parts of Wootton.
In Shortstown, cuts to the number 3 service see some schoolchildren in New Cardington having to walk 20 minutes to reach their nearest bus stop to Bedford Academy.
In North Bedford the loss of the 7 and 10 and the rerouted 4 will isolate many residents.
