THE crisis concerning bus services in Mid Bedfordshire will be discussed at an urgent meeting in Westminster next week. North East Bedfordshire MP Alistair Burt has asked Stagecoach regional director James Freeman to meet Bedfordshire MPs next Wednesday f

THE crisis concerning bus services in Mid Bedfordshire will be discussed at an urgent meeting in Westminster next week.

North East Bedfordshire MP Alistair Burt has asked Stagecoach regional director James Freeman to meet Bedfordshire MPs next Wednesday for an explanation of his recent decision to reduce services across the county, and what opportunities there may be for any reconsideration.

"MPs are already receiving strong representations from constituents, which we need to make Stagecoach well aware of," said Mr Burt.

"But the meeting is designed to be positive as well as critical, and we want to see what can and should be saved in terms of routes.

"We will report back to parishes and those making representations as soon as we can, and we are working with our county councillors to help as much as possible."

Mr Burt added: "The county council will have to pick up the pieces, and is already working very hard on this. It is most important that they have the clearest picture of bus usage and demand, so I would ask all passengers in the affected villages and on the routes concerned to let me and their parish councils know of their interest, to help in this process.

"At this stage in the process I am optimistic that discussion and effort will pay dividends, and will be doing all I can to assist.