Free shuttle bus service launched to create link to Peterborough's Bretton Centre during road works
A free shuttle bus service has been created to help people travel to Peterborough’s Bretton Centre while vital gas works are carried out.
The new service, which will be paid for by Cadent Gas, will replace earlier plans that involved members of the workforce moving equipment out of the way to allow a safe passage for buses arriving at the centre.
Instead, a free shuttle bus will operate to and from Peterborough City Hospital to Sainsbury’s at the Bretton Centre every half an hour.
Want more stories like this? Subscribe to our newsletter here.
The service will operate while the gas works are completed.
A Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority spokesperson said: “We have been involved in conversations between Peterborough City Council, the bus operator (Stagecoach East), and the contractor of the works (Cadent Gas).
"A half hourly free shuttle bus service is being provided between City Hospital and Bretton Centre Car Park while the gas works are taking place.
The spokesperson explained: “While significant efforts were made to try to keep the road open for normal sized buses, the contractor advised that the full closure was unavoidable.
"As a result, to maintain the link to Bretton Centre, the free shuttle service was negotiated between Stagecoach East and Cadent Gas to maintain connections to the essential amenities available at Bretton Centre.”
Combined Authority Mayor Paul Bristow said: “I know how important access to the Bretton Centre is for Peterborough residents.
"That is why, at the end of August, I brought Cadent, Stagecoach and Peterborough City Council together to find a solution.
“We agreed to monitor the situation closely and ensure bus access continued throughout the works.
"Although a concern has since been raised, Cadent is funding a shuttle bus to maintain access to the Bretton Centre while the roadworks continue.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and consider further action if needed.”
A spokesperson for Peterborough City Council said: “The road closure at Bretton Centre is to allow Cadent to carry out urgent gas works which means buses cannot access the centre via the normal route.
"However, working with Cadent, Stagecoach is providing a shuttle bus to and from City Hospital to Sainsbury’s at the centre for no additional charge, every half an hour and has put posters up at bus stops to inform passengers of this temporary change.”