by Rebecca Hannant
East Yorkshire Buses has announced new and extended services for passengers in the region and further afield.
From Monday, January 29, several changes will be made to services around the region, including Hull, Bridlington, Holderness, Goole and Pocklington.
In Holderness, changes will be made to the number 75 bus linking Withernsea to Hull and the number 71 bus, which links Easington to Withernsea.
The 75 will run once an hour between Hull, Hedon and Withernsea after 5.30pm, while the 71 will introduce a Sunday service.
Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart previously said that one of his priorities for the region was to improve the bus services on offer.
During his October meeting with East Riding Council’s transportation services manager Colin Walker, South East Holderness ward councillors Lyn Healing and Sean McMaster, and Councillor Nigel Wilkinson, portfolio holder for finance and governance, Mr Stuart asked for the number 75 to be increased to an hourly service in the evenings.
Mr Stuart said the changes marked a “huge improvement” for the region, saying they would also ensure that people would feel safe travelling in the evenings. The new services will also allow more people from Hull and Hedon to enjoy an evening in Withernsea, and working in the city centre will become more convenient.
Mr Stuart said: “It will also increase the number of appointments people in Withernsea will be able to choose at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital without worrying about how they will get home.
“Good healthcare isn’t only about being able to get to an appointment but also being able to get home again in good time, and this change in the timetable will make that easier.”
South East Holderness ward councillors Lyn Healing, Sean McMaster and Claire Holmes said: “This is fantastic news for Withernsea. As a rural area, bus links are vital for our local people and businesses. It keeps them connected and enables them to access work, leisure and education.”
Mr Stuart added: “Whether they’re getting home from a hospital appointment, attending an event after work, or spending an evening with friends, people want to see a frequent bus service they can rely on.
“That’s why I’m so pleased the council has listened to my request and is doubling the frequency of the 75 bus in the evenings. I will continue to work with Lyn, Sean and Claire to press the case for improved weekend services to increase the opportunities available to everyone.”
Changes will also be made to service 136, which runs from Driffield to Bridlington via Beeford and Skipsea. No other changes are set to take place in the Holderness region.
