Isle of Man Motor Museum has objected to plans to reduce regular bus services to Jurby.

Directors Darren and Denis Cunningham say replacement of scheduled routes with dial-a-ride minibuses will reduce weekday services arriving in Jurby while the museum is open for admission from six buses per day to one just bus per day.

’It is absolutely against the public interest that this application be granted,’ they said in a formal letter of objection submitted to the Road Transport Licensing Committee.

The letter, copied in to Bus Vannin, Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer and Ayre and Michael MHKs Tim Baker and Alfred Cannan, claims: ’The proposed changes are the start of a slippery slope which will lead to Jurby being further isolated and cut off from the rest of the island.

’They will cause a direct reduction in the quality of life in Jurby. The changes will have a detrimental impact upon both our business and the wider business community in Jurby.’

Bus Vannin has applied to the RTLC for a licence to expand the ConnectVillages on-demand service to Jurby and the Ramsey estates.

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.

critics

And critics point out that the minibuses have to be booked in advance, up to 4pm the day before departure - although Bus Vannin said it will ’do its best’ to accommodate last minute transport.

The application was due to be heard by the RTLC today (Thursday) but it will now be postponed to April 11 due to the number of objections received.

Campaigner Louise Whitelegg, who was a candidate for Ayre and Michael in the 2016 general election, has submitted a petition containing 146 signatures objecting to the granting of the licence application, together with 31 letters.

Isle of Man Motor Museum opened in May 2015 and has more than 500 vehicles on display in purpose-built premises on Jurby Industrial Estate. It also owns and operates the adjacent Guard House coffeehouse.

Visitors are advised it takes visitors a minimum of three to four hours to explore the museum, which is open six days a week from April to September from 10am until 5pm.

Darren Cunningham and his father Denis said in their letter of objection: ’The proposed new timetable shows a reduction in the regular weekday bus services arriving in Jurby whilst the museum is open for admission from six buses per day to one bus per day.

’Furthermore this bus arrives at 14.52 and we will not be able to advise our customers in good faith that they will have enough time to visit the museum if they arrive on this service.

’Effectively, the museum will have lost its entire regular weekday bus service if this application is approved.’

They added that visitors already have difficulty reaching the museum by bus as they have to change at Ramsey if coming in from Douglas.

But they said ConnectVillages will in all likelihood significantly reduce the number of visitors to the museum who will see no service there listed on the timetable.