Lack of buses 'pinning us in homes' say villagers

People living in a village in East Yorkshire say limited bus services are leaving them "pinned in their homes".

Lockington has two buses each weekday to Beverley which allow a maximum of three and a half hours in the town in order to make the return service.

Kathleen Leighton, 82, from Lockington, said the timetable leaves little flexibility once she arrives in Beverley.

The Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (HEYCA) said the 142 route was fully funded by East Riding of Yorkshire Council and would be unlikely to operate commercially without that funding.

Kathleen said she relied on the bus as she does not drive and struggled to walk quickly while running errands.

"If I see anybody I know, I wouldn't be able to stop and talk to them. I can't loiter.

"I have to have a plan because I have to get back to the bus station in time."

A spokesperson for the Campaign to Protect Rural England said Lockington's situation was common.

"A fifth of rural bus routes have disappeared in the past five years, leaving elderly people increasingly cut off from doctors, shops and essential services."

They added that rural routes receive less funding per person than urban services.

From 30 March, HEYCA headed by Reform's Luke Campbell assumed legal responsibility of public transport in Hull and East Yorkshire.

However, the transfer of all functions will take longer, with a total takeover expected by March 2027.

Barbara Green, 78, organises coffee mornings at the village hall and said some people struggle to get out of their homes.

"It's a shame because you do get elderly people that are absolutely pinned in their homes because they can't get out," she said. "It's just very frustrating for them."

Barbara said some residents had moved away from the village so they could be closer to services.

She said: "You'll get people who move out of the village because they've got to be where the doctor's appointments, surgeries and pharmacies are.

"It's a shame because it's lovely living out here."

Barbara said more buses would improve villagers independence and help them "get out the house."

She added: "They'd have a much better social life."

The nearest bus stop with more frequent services is on Station Road, more than a mile from the village and next to the A164.

Barbara said the distance made it inaccessible for some residents.

"There's absolutely no way some residents can walk there. You've got people in their 80s," she said.

HEYCA said it had already spoken to groups representing bus users and was planning a public consultation.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council currently funds two door‑to‑door minibus services in Lockington.

One operates Monday to Friday for hospital and healthcare appointments, while another runs on Tuesdays for trips to a supermarket in Beverley.

East Yorkshire Buses has been approached for comment.

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