Public transport bosses insist the dial-a-ride trial in the north of the island has been a big success.

They say the ConnectVillages minibuses have carried a total of 2,329 passengers since the 12-month pilot was launched in December - and there has been a remarkable increase in the number using bus services in the north.

Bus Vannin has responded to concerns aired in last week’s Manx Independent that the village of Jurby could be ’cut off’ when the regular buses at off-peak times are replaced in April by dial-a-ride minibuses which have to be booked in advance.

Campaigner Louise Whitelegg has launched a petition calling for the current bus schedule to be maintained, claiming ConnectVillages will lead to the community being further isolated.

But Bus Vannin insists that services will improve with the advent of ConnectVillages, which sees customers collected from their homes and dropped at their chosen destination, and which has already been launched in Bride, Andreas and Maughold.

It has confirmed that dial-a-ride will replace five Monday-Friday and nine Saturday services, linking Jurby with Ramsey, Andreas, Bride and Maughold.

timetable

But there will still be 12 regular buses departing from Jurby Threshold on weekdays and six on Saturdays. The Sunday timetable is unchanged.

A two-week bedding-in period will see ConnectVillages run alongside the existing timetable prior to the new one being introduced.

Letters explaining how to use the service will be sent to all Jurby addresses and information road shows will take place at Jurby Medical Centre on April 1, 4 and 6.

Jason Moorhouse MHK, member with responsibility for public transport, said: ’Replacing underused routes with flexible and convenient services which enable social inclusion.

’I hope the Jurby community will visit the roadshows taking place next month to speak to staff about how the service works and the benefits it has already delivered to so many people across the north of the island.’

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer MHK said: ’The demand responsive service has been welcomed by customers.

’Even though we ask for 24 hours’ notice for a booking, we can usually provide a service with less notice and try to be flexible wherever we can.’

In December, ConnectVillages carried 444 passengers, rising to 805 in January and totalling 775 in February. It’s carried 305 in March to date.

Figures for the north of the island, services 16 to 20, including dial-a-ride, rose 19% in both January and February over the same months in 2018.

Bookings for ConnectVillages can be made at www.bus.im/connect or by calling 697440 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Journeys can be booked up to until 4pm on the day prior to departure.

Standard fares apply for the service, which runs Monday-Saturday, 9am to 7pm.

MHKs Tim Baker and Alfred Cannan are holding a constituency surgery at Jurby Community Centre on Saturday, from 10am to 1pm. Residents will be able to raise their questions and concerns about the proposed changes as well as any other issues.