To all members of PCS Fylde Branch at Peel Park
THE FUTURE OF THE PEEL PARK BUS
Background – The majority of the DWP Norcross Closure
The announcement was made on Wednesday 27th June 2012 to close the majority of the DWP Norcross site. At that stage there wasn’t a bus service to Peel Park. There had been one previously from Lytham to Peel Park as a result of the closure of the DWP Moorland Road site; however this ran from 2008 until 2011.
Prior to 2008 there had been a service for a period called the “ITSA bus”.
Extension of the Number 14 bus service to Peel Park
There were three agreed joint statements as part of the DWP Moorland Road closure. The first and key one relates to the major issue which was the access to Peel Park by public transport. The details below are from the agreed joint statement that was issued to staff at the Lytham Moorland Road site before it was due to close.
The following therefore applies (please note that the “definition” is the Mobility Rules for members in the DWP):
“The question of a lack of adequate public transport services between Lytham and Peel Park is a key issue both in terms of mobility and safety issues:
The main provisions of the Mobility Policy are shown……… Based on this definition, the fact that there is currently no public transport service to Peel Park means there will be a significant number of people outside the mobility rule.
All parties agree that there are safety problems with the existing pedestrian access arrangements onto the Peel Park site using any bus route.”
Part of the discussions in 2012 surrounded safe access to Peel Park by public transport.
The matter was raised with all the local MPs and the Leader of the Blackpool Council.
The then Minister declined to sign off the Norcross closure until there was safe access by public transport (the transport plan).
In April 2013 the new number 14 bus timetable came in including the extended service and the extension of the route to Peel Park.
Funding
Although PCS haven’t seen the actual business case undertaken by the DWP (which will have undoubtedly been commercial in confidence) the funding to extend the number 14 was of a “prime pump” nature and for a limited period of time (our recollection was that 3 years was the timeframe).
Announcement at the Peel Park House Committee on 13th January 2016
At the Peel Park House Committee on 13th January 2016 it was confirmed that as of April 2016 the “prime pump” funding will cease. This could lead to the number 14 bus service extension to Peel Park ceasing or it may be dramatically reduced in terms of frequency.
Extension in 2016
Following the announcement in January 2016 the Branch contacted the local MPs and the Leader of the Blackpool Council and pressed for the continuation of the service to Peel Park. This was successful albeit with a reduced service
2017 Information
The Blackpool Transport pages indicate from 2nd April 2017 the No 14 bus route ends in Blackpool and the No 6 bus continues to Tesco. The Branch have contacted the Leader of the Blackpool Council about the potential ending of the bus service to Peel Park.
This would appear to mean that DWP Peel Park is no longer accessible safely by public transport from 2nd April 2017.
What you can do to help?
You may wish to raise the matter with your MP (as a constituent) or your Councillor as members who use the public transport to Peel Park could find themselves unable to safely access their place of work if the extension to the number 14 was to cease.
If you require any further details please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
PCS Fylde 