An MHK admits there is a ’significant level of concern’ about the dial-a-ride bus service in Jurby.

Tim Baker was speaking following a public meeting which he attended with fellow Ayre and Michael MHK Alfred Cannan when Jurby residents called for a return of a regular bus service to the village.

Meanwhile, a taxi driver has revealed he will stop plying for trade because of the bus service.

The on-demand minibus service was introduced in December 2018 to connect Andreas, Bride and Maughold villages with Ramsey before it was extended in April this year to include Jurby and areas around the boundary of Ramsey.

But the Department of Infrastructure remains committed to the dial-a-ride bus service despite issues raised by northern residents.

A spokesman said: ’The service is intended to provide a more flexible, cost-effective and customer-focused alternative to traditional public transport services on rural routes where many scheduled buses run well below capacity.

’It aims to promote social inclusion and community engagement, as well as generating efficiencies for government by reducing fleet, fuel and maintenance costs.’

However, residents who attended last week’s meeting told local democracy reporter Ewan Gawne that their experience doesn’t match that of the government’s belief.

He was told by one woman that the service is ’nothing we were told it would be’.

She added: ’I’d rather go back to the old service, even if it was every two hours rather than every hour.

’The minibuses are so cramped inside, if you get on with two bags of shopping you’ve nowhere to put them as there is no room by your feet.’

Cramped

A man Ewan also spoke to said the dial-a-ride service ’just isn’t working for us’ and had led to Jurby’s children being ’isolated’ during the summer holidays.

During the meeting, a poll was held over how the service is working and what residents would like to see. Everyone said they want the return of a scheduled bus service.

Speaking to the Examiner, Mr Baker said: ’We recognise that there is a significant level of concern in Jurby regarding the demand responsive transport service.

’A number of matters were raised with us at the public meeting and we have already met with Bus Vannin executives to seek a solution. A further meeting will be held next Friday and we will update local residents in due course.’

Another man who isn’t happy over the dial-a-ride service is taxi driver Barry Murphy.

He has challenged the service since its inception and has now revealed he will no longer be operating his private hire service from Kirk Michael due to a drop in business.

Mr Murphy said: ’For any business to continue it has to be financially viable.

’Truth is that since the government started doing airport pick-ups and drop offs for a tenner, my little taxi service in the village was never going to have a long term future.

’I went to a meeting at the RTLC offices recently and it became clear that the intention of the DoI is to destroy the taxi industry. They will eventually, I guess, and force hundreds of taxi drivers on benefits.

’That’s the mentality of government I guess.

’I wish the government no luck whatsoever with their "dial a bus" service.

’I’m not hypocritical enough to pretend to like it.

’It’s my opinion the government should not be in the business of competing against private enterprise. Only here in the Isle of Man could that be deemed socially acceptable.’

We asked the DoI for a response to Mr Murphy’s comments.

A spokesman said: ’While the on-demand service provides more customer-focused arrangements, it is not intended to compete with private taxi companies, which offer an individual service with no limitations on times, route availability or geographical boundaries.’

â?¢ Reporter Sam Turton tried out the dial-a-ride service for himself.

To see how he got on, see page 19.