A Ross-on-Wye Town Councillor, Daniel Lister, has taken up a local campaigner’s challenge to be reliant on local buses for a month.

Cllr Lister told the Gazette that before he became a Councillor, he and his friends used the bus service a great deal, particularly to Hereford and Gloucester in the evenings. After cuts were made to the service, and the later buses ceased to run, he was not able to go out after work any longer.

Cllr Lister told the Ross Gazette: “This impacted more people than just us, so when I saw they wanted to cut the services again I was upset and knew something had to be done.”

He said that when Jordan Creed, a man from Ross-on-Wye came forward campaigning against cuts to the bus service, he was very pleased. “Along come Jordan and what great work he has done already,” said Cllr Lister.

He added: “We as Councillors all have a lot going on behind the scenes so when residents of the town stand up for it we really appreciate it and will give them the support we can.”

In the Town Council’s March newsletter, residents were advised to “use or lose” the bus services; Herefordshire Council had told Ross Town Council that unless more residents used bus services locally, further budget cuts would be made, particularly to the 33 bus from Ross-on-Wye to Hereford, and the 40 service which circulates around Ross.

Cllr Lister said: “With the car park charges all being raised, it is now cheaper and easier to get the bus from Ross to Hereford. It costs about £5 to park in Hereford, and a return ticket on the bus is £5.50, so why wouldn’t you get the bus?”

He referenced some local businesses, such as village pubs, that are located on the bus route between Ross and Hereford. If the services were cut, this could have a detrimental effect on their trade. He added that there are social clubs in the surrounding towns and villages. “For some, its the only outing they might get and a way for them to get out for a walk and to meet new people,” he said.

Last year, Jordan Creed challenged Ross Town Councillors and Herefordshire County Councillors to be reliant solely on the bus service for one month. So far, Cllr Lister is the third one to embark on the challenge. Two Councillors who are members of the It’s Our County Party, Cllrs Jim Kenyon and Liz Harvey, have both completed the challenge.

Cllr Lister began his bus-only month on Monday, April 11th. His usual route to work is a six-mile journey, but it is not on the bus route, so he would have to catch a bus for a part of the way, and then cycle the rest. “It seems a crazy way of doing it, but I want to complete Jordan’s challenge if I can,” he said.

However, on Monday, he was required to travel into Hereford. He noted that the bus was well-used, with a mixture of people of all ages using the service. He also said that more were getting on at stops around Ross, and people were very friendly and helpful.