Cork bus depot blockade postponed

By Eoin English

Anti bus cuts campaigners in Cork have postponed a blockade of the city's main bus depot which was scheduled for tomorrow (WEDS) morning.

Commuters were facing widespread disruption to early morning bus services if the blockade - which would have been the second such protest - went ahead.

The decision to postpone the protest came following confirmation that the National Transport Authority (NTA) has agreed to a second meeting with Cork North Central TDs on the issue late next week.

It is understood that the NTA has conceded that the decision to axe the number 12 route which served the Glen was made at a time when the authority was unaware that a new housing estate, Glentreasna, was opened in the Glen in 2010, and that a second new estate containing 60 houses is due to open in the area in the New Year.

It is further understood that while the NTA has ruled out a re-instatement of the number 12 service, it has agreed to consider rerouting other buses through or into the Glen in the light of the new information.

But the bus campaigners stressed that the planned blockade has been postponed - and not cancelled.

The said they hope the talks between the NTA and the TDs will resolve the issue and guarantee a decent bus service to the people of the Glen, but added that blockades will be fully implemented if the talks do not deliver.