Campaigner 'chuffed' at bus route return

A campaigner who petitioned for the resumption of bus services to a folk village and a beauty spot in the south of the Isle of Man said she was "absolutely chuffed" a new service is set to start.

Bus Vannin has announced the daily 8S route from Peel to the Sound will run all year round from late July, subject to approval by the Road Transport Licensing Committee.

Christa-Marion Viohl, who started the Save Our Cregneash Bus pressure group, said while she was delighted with the new route, people needed to support it.

A seasonal service to the Sound, stopping at Cregneash, was scrapped by the Department of Infrastructure last year as it was "not financially viable".

The decision was met with a backlash from the pressure group and local authorities in the area.

That led to Infrastructure Minister Michelle Haywood committing to review the decision.

Ms Viohl said: "We fought hard for it, together we built up this pressure, together we reached this outcome and together we enjoy the results."

She said the new route was "more than we in the south were looking for" as it was a year round service that extended to Peel.

"As happy as we are, we still need to support this bus because if we don't use this bus we will lose it," she said.

The pressure group would be holding a meeting in August to discuss what could be done to support the service and promote the route.

The service would have "a huge impact" on both tourists and the elderly residents of the Howe and the Chasms who would now not be "housebound" and could "have a day out at the Sound and enjoy the Manx heritage", she added.

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