COUNCILLORS are raging at the state of bus services in Barrow.

A meeting heard that there are several bus shelters in the town that are no longer in use because of changes to some routes, while passengers were left with no shelter for others.

Also, community leaders are growing frustrated at 14-year-old buses still operating in Barrow, with one councillor saying Barrow is in danger of becoming a ‘hand me down town’.

Members of Cumbria County Council’s local committee for Barrow, which met yesterday, heard reports from Barrow’s highways advisory sub group on the state of bus provision in the borough.

They expressed concerns after some routes in the town were cut or changed by operator Stagecoach.

Hindpool councillor Anne Burns said passengers had lost out, after a bus route was changed to miss out Blake Street, and instead head down Holker Street.

Cllr Burns said: “They have changed the bus route and the residents on Holker Street have been on to me about me about a lack of a bus shelter when there is another redundant one elsewhere.

“People are coming out of Asda and standing and getting soaked wet through.

“Surely we can move them?

“If there is no longer going to be a route then we need to work in partnership with the operator.

“It’s ridiculous.”

Chair of the advisory group Bill McEwan, added: “They have done the same thing in Ormsgill.

“I asked to get that one shifted and they say it will cost £3,000.

“And we are trying to encourage people to use the buses rather than drive.

“The state of the buses is absolutely terrible.”

Barrow mayor Kevin Hamilton also blasted bus companies for introducing new vehicles in other places, while Barrow’s almost 15-year-old fleet is still on the roads.

He said: “Why do we have a 14-year-old buses operating when Carlisle are always getting new ones.

“Maybe there would be an increase in passengers if we got new buses. I don’t like this town being treated like a hand-me-down.”

Mayor Hamilton also said he'd like to meet with Stagecoach.