The new Ely Zipper service makes its debut
launch of ZIPPER, the new bus service. Left: Cllr Bill Hunt, Ashley Bamforth, Cllr Anna Bailey, Jane Lucas and Chairman of Witcham parish council Mick Housdon and Jane Lucas. Picture: Steve Williams. - Credit: Archant
It was champagne all round on Monday morning as the new bus service linking Haddenham and Wilburton with Ely welcomed its first passengers on board.
The launch of ZIPPER, the new bus service. Britni-May Edwards, who helped name the service. Picture: Steve Williams. - Credit: Archant
The Ely Zipper – or ZIP for short –left Witcham at 6.52am today (Monday) from its maiden voyage into Ely.
Along the way, it collected passengers in Haddenham, Wilburton, Stretham and Little Thetford before stopping off at Tesco and Market Street, in Ely.
The service, being run by Dews Coaches, will also make stops in Aldreth once a day.
launch of ZIPPER, the new bus service. Left: Cllr Anna Bailey, Cllr Bill Hunt, Chairman of Witcham parish council Mick Housdon and Jane Lucas.Picture: Steve Williams. - Credit: Archant
County councillors Anna Bailey and Bill Hunt are behind the new service, which replaces the current 106 bus service, and joined passengers for the maiden run, complete with a few glasses of bubbly.
The name ZIP was chosen by Sutton resident, Britni-May Edwards after replying to a competition run by the Ely Standard and she was on hand in Ely to welcome the bus for its first journey into the city.
Support from Cambridgeshire County Council for the proposed new service is for an initial period of three years – after which it will be reviewed.
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Councillor Bill Hunt said: “The message is simple, use it or lose it. We have shown that a service that is good value for money and efficient can be created, but people need to support it otherwise it simply won’t continue.”
