Concerns over 'life line' bus after firm leaves

Ms Deans uses the service to visit her friend

Residents in a rural village say they are concerned about a "life line" bus service after its operator said it would withdraw its 14 services.

First Bus announced plans last month to withdraw from its five depots at Camborne, Falmouth, Penzance, Summercourt and Truro due to rising costs and falling passenger numbers.

Bus operator Go Cornwall said it would step in as a replacement by the middle of February 2026 when First Bus would stop operating.

Managing director for Go Cornwall Richard Stevens said no community "will be left unserved".

Ms Holman said there was a concern residents would be unable to get into town

Margaret Deans, who has lived at Praa Sands since 1993, said she used the First Bus service which runs from Falmouth to Penzance to visit her friend and attend hospital appointments.

She said: "I'm very concerned [that Go Cornwall won't] cover the route to the standard that we have got at the moment, which is an hourly bus service coming right through the village."

She added: "That's what we need...I don't want to lose it.

"I'm visually impaired. My mobility is restricted. I need to get to places and see people.

"I certainly need to get to the hospital and the bus is how I do it."

Heidi Mellor, owner of cafe SiSu, said it was a "great shame" First Bus had withdrawn.

"I think it will impact a lot of, particularly in this village, our older customers who use the buses on a regular basis," she said.

Sue Holman has lived in Praa Sands for 49 years.

If the bus services changed, Ms Holman said she would be concerned residents would be "unable to get into town".

The managing director for Go Cornwall Richard Stevens added: "We want people to know that any area currently served by these routes will continue to have access to bus services.

"While the network will not be replicated like-for-like, we will ensure alternative or amended services are in place. Our priority is to keep Cornwall connected."

Dan Rogerson, the transport portfolio holder on Cornwall Council, said officers were looking through Go Cornwall's proposed routes and timetables.

"Obviously, people will be feeling that people rely on these bus services to get around with young people, older people, people trying to get to employment opportunities," Mr Rogerson said.

"Go Cornwall have said that they will serve all the communities currently served.

"The devil will be in the detail about frequency and times and those sorts of things, and that's the stuff that our officers will now be going through in terms of what Go Cornwall is submitting."

Go Cornwall said further information would be provided once planning was complete and discussions with Cornwall Council have concluded.