Whitwick residents have been asked what they want from a local bus service after public transport bosses responded to a petition.

Arriva angered many when services 16, 29 and 29A were taken off the original route through the centre of Whitwick village.

Local resident, Jacky McNeice, then began campaign aimed at getting around 3,000 people to sign a petition which could be presented to the bus company.

She said the rerouting of buses had caused considerable hardship to residents who now have to walk long distances in bad weather to use the service. 

Jacky added that residents of all ages, people with disabilities, parents with toddlers and also schoolchildren had all been affected by the route changes.

That was in March, with a view that the return of the services may have to be subsidised by Leicestershire County Council.

But now Arriva UK management has come back to Jacky with suggestions for Whitwick - while admitting the cancelled routes would not be restored.

Jacky McNeice presents her petition to representatives from Arriva UK and Leicestershire County Council

There then followed a meeting earlier this month with Arriva and the County Council where Jacky submitted her part of the petition.

Whitwick councillor Tony Gillard is due to submit his petition this week.

Arriva wants to find out what residents want from a local bus service and has asked a set of questions - they are:

• What times of day would a service through the centre of Whitwick be most valuable to residents, if it only ran for limited hours?
• If the bus through Whitwick was timed specifically to connect with another service in Coalville for onward travel, which destination would be most important – Leicester, Loughborough, or Ashby?
• If the bus from Whitwick could call at either Morrisons or Aldi/Lidl which would be most useful?

The letter from Arriva UK says: "Simply reverting back to the previous route and timetable for 16 and 29/29A isn't something that works for us as a commercial operator, and we need to ensure that whatever solution we look at is financially sustainable. 

"However there are some other options we're keen to explore on a trial basis, and would greatly value your support in gathering feedback from the local community.

"If you'd be able to come back to me with some views that'd be really useful. We can then work up a proposal in more detail."

Jacky told Coalville Nub News: "Arriva have been very understanding, but it's been two years now since the services were cut.

"The 29 goes from Coalville to Leicester, the 29A goes to Ashby and the 16 to Loughborough.

"People want to go to these places, but they want the bus to come back through the village.

"It's as simple as that, we're only talking about a tiny area. But HS2 is now finished and there is funding available for transport."

Jacky would now like to see the new North West Leicestershire MP, Amanda Hack, support the campaign.

She added: "I've spoken to Amanda Hack about this, and she said she would support it.

"Now she's been elected I hope she will take it up again. I want people to talk about this and hopefully we can renegotiate the route.

"Arriva seem open to something. But people have contacted me to say how angry they are about the services being cut."

To contact Jacky with responses to Arriva's questions, email: [email protected].