Bus service No 15

Service 15 Staining – Victoria Hospital – Blackpool – Bispham – Poulton
To withdraw all daily evening journeys on their local bus service 15, which runs between Staining, Victoria Hospital, Blackpool, Bispham and Poulton.

Current Position
This service currently operates every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime between Staining, Victoria Hospital, Blackpool, Bispham, Norcross and Poulton. There is also an hourly daily evening and Sunday daytime service between Staining, Victoria Hospital and Blackpool.

The section of the route between Bispham and Poulton via Norcross is operated on behalf of Lancashire County Council.

From 22 May 2011

The following journeys will be withdrawn:-
Monday – Saturday
1906, 2006, 2106, 2206 & 2306 buses from Staining to Blackpool;
1935, 2035, 2135 & 2235 buses from the Blackpool to Staining;

Sundays
1806, 1906, 2006, 2106, 2206 & 2306 buses from Staining to Blackpool;
1835, 1935, 2035, 2135 & 2235 buses from the Blackpool to Staining;

According to electronic ticket machine data supplied by Blackpool Transport, there are approximately 1,300 passenger trips made per annum on the withdrawn journeys. This is an average 26 weekly passenger trips made, broken down to just less than 4 passengers per day, equating to less than 1 per journey.

Lancashire County Council carried out an on bus survey on 19 May 2011 and found 8 passenger trips were made to and from Staining all evening. This equates to just less than 1 passenger per journey.

Half of this route lies within Blackpool Council's boundaries and they have confirmed that they will not be providing any contribution towards funding a replacement evening service.

Lancashire County Council's estimate to provide replacement journeys would be in excess of £40,000 per annum returning a revenue to cost ratio of 6.5%.