Diamond will be scrapping part of the Airway 9 bus route after a loss of funding, it says
The entrance to departures at East Midlands Airport(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)
A bus operator says it has been left “frustrated” after councils stopped support for part of an airport bus route through Derbyshire.
The “airway 9”, formerly the “airline 9” bus route running from Burton through Swadlincote and Ashby to East Midlands Airport has been operating since late 2019, after support from Derbyshire councils.
However, Diamond Buses, owned by Rotala, says the service from Ashby onwards is now being cut.
Bob Baker, managing director, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “From Ashby to the airport is being dropped because the local authorities mentioned below no longer wish to fund the extension.
“Much to my frustration it was actually confirmed to me today (July 21) whilst discussing another matter, but our commercial team have been in conversation regarding this since the end of April, but it’s been in the pipeline since last summer.”
In October 2019, Derbyshire County Council had said it had worked with the airport and North West Leicestershire District Council to pay for 17 Sunday and bank holiday services plus two early morning and three late evening Monday to Saturday services.
Former councillor Simon Spencer had said this would provide for hourly services in the early hours until late at night for travellers and airport employees, as well as those working on business parks on the route.
South Derbyshire District Council had said in 2019 that it “helped influence Midland Classic to introduce the new service through its membership of the East Midlands Enterprise Gateway Access to Work Group, improving access to the huge numbers of jobs available from companies at the airport and other locations along the route”.
Between Ashby and the airport, the Airway 9 route runs through Lount in Leicestershire and Melbourne in Derbyshire, before reaching the DHL base, airport and gateway business park.
It runs from 4.05am from New Street in Burton with the last route returning to Burton at 10.38pm Monday through Saturday, and 5.05am until 9.38pm on Sundays.
Derbyshire County Council and the East Midlands Combined County Authority, which oversees public transport, were approached for comment but have not responded as of this article’s publication.
Leicestershire County Council had provided further detail when it had been approached for a comment on the Number 19 service, which is also being scrapped by Diamond but is now being merged into the Number 4 route.
It said: “We are also aware of concerns about the withdrawal of Diamond Service 9, which currently connects East Midlands Gateway and Ashby-de-la-Zouch. The council and its partners are actively exploring options to maintain connectivity and will provide a further update as soon as alternative arrangements have been confirmed.”
A South Derbyshire District Council spokesperson said: “As a district council, we don’t have a direct involvement with the running, or funding of local bus services.
“In 2020 we were able to provide some financial support to bus routes serving East Midlands Airport and the East Midlands Gateway business park, but this was limited and only possible thanks to a government Covid Recovery Grant.
“We do promote the No.9 service in our visitor information centre to those exploring South Derbyshire and the National Forest and to jobseekers, with the large numbers of employment opportunities that have been created around the airport in recent years.
“Whilst some rural bus services may have lower patronage, they provide a vital service to those communities, enabling residents to get to work, education and training, as well as social and medical appointments.
“Employment opportunities are expected to continue to grow at the airport, including evening and weekend shift work, and the No.9 service makes these accessible to residents in South Derbyshire.”
