A petition has been launched to save regular bus services in Jurby - amid fears that it is a community being 'cut off’.

The petition has been launched by Louise Whitelegg, who stood as a candidate for Ayre and Michael in the 2016 general election.

In its first 24 hours, it gathered some 100 signatures.

The petition claims that from April 8, the 'hourly bus service will stop and the "ConnectVillages" dial-a-ride service will replace it’.

'This means that if you want a bus in or out of Jurby, then you will have to ring 24 hours in advance,’ it adds.

'Jurby has a high proportion of people who do not have their own transport, who rely on the bus to get them out and about,’ explained Mrs Whitelegg.

'This is going to encourage further isolation and additional car/taxi journeys when the Isle of Man should be encouraging more public transport not less.’

Public transport bosses insist the majority of scheduled buses on weekdays and all of Sunday’s will remain exactly as they are.

But five out of the 12 journeys on Monday to Friday, including all those between about 9.05am and 2.50pm, and nine out of 15 on Saturdays will be lost.

ConnectVillages was launched as a trial in December, initially with minibuses linking Andreas, Bride and Maughold with Ramsey.

It was billed by public transport political member Jason Moorhouse as being 'all about convenience and social inclusion’.

Some journeys on routes in the north of the island have already been replaced.

Now Bus Vannin has applied to the Road Transport Licensing Committee to extend the on-demand service to Jurby and the Ramsey estates from April 8. The application is due to be heard on March 27.

Scheduled bus services to Jurby will be reduced so most of the 'off peak’ journeys on routes 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 are replaced with ConnectVillages.

Mrs Whitelegg, the island’s Christian Aid co-ordinator: 'I know this will cut off Jurby for a lot of people.

'If dial-a-ride was a top-up addition to the hourly bus service that would be fine. But it isn’t - it’s a replacement.

'I hate inequality and I would have thought this is against the Equality Act because it has a disproportionate effect on women and children.

'You have to book dial-a-ride 24 hours in advance.

'How would people get to an emergency dentist or doctor’s appointment?

'There are people in Jurby on zero-hours contracts. If they have to book a bus in advance it makes them turn down work.

'And there are people who don’t have credit on their phone - how are they supposed to ring for a bus.’

There is no dedicated timetable or route.

Customers can be collected from their home and dropped off at their destination. Other passengers who are booked in and who are heading in the same direction may be collected along the way.

ConnectVillages can be booked until 4pm the day before departure.

If transport is needed at the last minute, you are advised to check online or by phone and Bus Vannin says it will do its best to accommodate you.

Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan told the House of Keys that an integrated public transport strategy, including ’externalisation’ of bus services, had a target of saving £1m, with the subsidy to road and rail cut by £333,333 a year over three years.

This follows the SAVE initiative, with a report suggesting savings could be made by changing crew schedules and terms and conditions, prioritising routes, and reviewing school bus and minibus provision, and concessionary fares.

A government spokesman said: 'A commitment has been made to find savings of £1m over the next three years and the strategy which will enable this to happen is currently being finalised. Further details will be made available in due course.’

Timetabled services arriving at the Jurby Threshold shelter from Monday to Friday will continue at 6.55am, 8.02am, 8.15am, 9.02am, 2.52pm, 4.12pm, 4.27pm, 5.27pm, 6.22pm, 7.04pm, 9.02pm and 10.54pm.

Journeys that will be replaced currently arrive at Jurby Threshold at 10.03, 10.52, 12.03, 12.52 and 14.03.

Saturday services arriving at the Jurby Threshold shelter will continue at 6.55am, 8.02am, 2.02pm, 5.27pm, 9.02pm and 10.54pm. Those that are to be replaced are at 9.02, 10.03, 10.52, 12.03, 12.52, 14.52, 16.12, 18.22 and 19.04.

Sunday services will be unchanged.

Seet the Jurby bus petition at www.gopetition.com/petitions/continuation-of-the-jurby-bus-service.html