Petition started to reinstate two Swindon bus services

A petition has been started to try to reinstate two bus services in Swindon which have been cut.

The withdrawal of the 21 and 23 services means people in Coleview, Stratton Park and parts of Penhill will no longer have a dedicated bus route.

Thamesdown Transport, which runs the service, said the routes were operating at a loss due to rising fuel costs.

The petition, asking for six-month reprieve, will be discussed by Swindon Borough Council on Thursday.

'Not fair'

Marilyn Beale, from the Penhill Community Forum, said: "Losing the 21 means the children won't be able to get to school on the bus. I know they can walk but it's not always clement weather.

"If any of the children are in the sixth form then they have to go with a backpack - weighing tonnes. So it's not fair to say 'oh they can walk'."

Thamesdown Transport managing director Paul Jenkins said: "Our fuel has gone up by 12% and is due to go up again next April. These particular routes have been running on very low margins.

"These changes have effectively pushed them into a loss-making situation and I'm sorry for the undoubted inconvenience this is going to cause the users."