New bus service improvements will benefit users in Ashby, Coalville and Measham

By The View, North West Leicestershire

IMPROVEMENTS to bus services in North West Leicestershire will begin this Saturday. 

There is a new service linking Coalville to Leicester.

The LC13 provides links between Leicester, Groby Road, Groby, Ratby Markfield Road, Botcheston, Merry Lees, Thornton, Bagworth, Ellistown, Hugglescote and Coalville.

Some journeys are timed to help provide early morning links to Glenfield Hospital, and academic links to Groby Brookvale College and Leicester city colleges.

The LC15 service is for journeys which currently do not serve Thornton or Bagworth and will now return to serving Stanton under Bardon.

The No15 service from Ibstock to Coalville, on weekdays, some morning and afternoon journeys will leave at new times to allow students to connect with route X16/16A to and from Loughborough.

Timetables on the 29/29A/X29 routes are being updates to help buses run on time.

 The LC12 service - Witherley to Measham - will now follow a slightly different route, running via Ratcliffe Culey then Atherstone, Witherley and finishing in Fenny Drayton.

Timetables for the LC16 route from Ashby to Loughborough will be updated to help buses run on time.

Also, a number of new bus routes and changes to timetables will be introduced in Leicestershire from Monday (April 13).

They include a new service linking Coalville and outlying villages to Leicester via Glenfield Hospital and schools / colleges.

Leicestershire County Council says the changes have been shaped by public feedback as part of a county-wide bus network review.

Ann Carruthers, director of environment and transport at Leicestershire County Council, said: “Our review is an ongoing process, shaped by public feedback, passenger use and local bus operator input, and we are grateful to everyone who has taken time to share their thoughts and experiences with us.

“The changes support connections to health and education sites, local attractions and focus on improving punctuality."

The changes are:

LC6: Hinckley – Coalville (Centrebus)

There will be an added stop at Gates Garden Centre to improve access for passengers.

LC12: Witherley – Market Bosworth – Measham (Arriva)

The route and timing points have been reviewed to improve journey time and punctuality, as well as the addition of a new bus stop in Witherley.