Doncaster bus chiefs reveal further details after services axed due to vandal attacks

Bus firm First announced earlier today that it was axing services to key parts of Doncaster after 6pm tonight in a number of areas in a bid to protect passengers and drivers after a string of attacks in recent days which has seen bricks, rocks and paving slabs all hurled at vehicles, smashing windows and damaging bodywork.

Fed up bosses say they were left with no altenative and are working with South Yorkshire Police to capture the yobs responsible for the vandal blitz.

First said it was halting services in Skellow, Bentley, Toll Bar and Edenthorp from 6pm tonight and has now announced further details of the changes.

Here are the changes in full

50B – Carcroft

Services will terminate at Carcroft from 6pm each evening until further notice.

Buses will run as normal to Owston Road, Park Avenue, High Street and terminate at the 1st stop.

87/87A/87B

Services will divert from 6pm each evening until further notice.

Buses will operate via Barnby Dun Road and Church Balk, resuming normal route at Thorne Road.

84

Due to anti-social behaviour, services will be diverted from 6pm each evening until further notice, via Barnby Dun Road.

66 (Bentley)

Due to anti-social behaviour, services will be diverted from 6pm each evening until further notice.

Buses will run to Arksey Lane at the Avenue, turn onto Balfour Rd, Burns Streer and The Avenue, before following the normal route back to Doncaster.

409/412

Due to anti-social behaviour, services will be diverting from 6pm each evening until further notice.

Buses will operate via York Road, Doncaster Road, Owston Road traffic lights, Askern Road and the normal route at A19.

Transport chiefs took the step of pulling services to a number of areas after repeated incidents of vandalism and attacks on vehicles in recent days.

Nigel Eggleton, Managing Director at First Doncaster said: “I want to apologise to customers in advance who may be affected by journeys that we are being forced to cancel due to repeated anti-social behaviour that is taking place mostly in the evenings across several areas in Doncaster.

“I am seriously concerned that at some point one of our drivers or a passenger may be seriously injured through this mindless criminal activity, and so until the matter is resolved and the people involved are identified, I will be withdrawing bus services from this evening after 6pm, Wednesday 8 June until further notice in the areas of Skellow, Bentley, Toll Bar and Edenthorpe where this activity has been taking place.

“Over the last three months we have experienced bricks and other objects being thrown at bus windows, resulting in damage in excess of £15,000 to glass and bodywork panels and some close calls in nearly injuring passengers and our drivers, including seven incidents in the last few days.

“I am also reaching out to the local community who I’m sure will know who the culprits are and ask them to take appropriate action to resolve the matter, until then bus services will remain absent. Hopefully by working together we can identify a solution.

“We are working closely with the police to try and identify and apprehend the people involved, but safety and the wellbeing of our staff and the travelling public has to be our overriding concern at this time.

"In addition to the safety concerns there is also the matter of ‘cost’ to replace the broken windows which is now into the thousands which is not something that we as a business providing a service to the local community should be expected to pay for.

“As I have stated this activity has been going on for too long and unless it is addressed urgently, we may need to take a more permanent decision as to whether buses run to certain areas of Doncaster after 6pm.”

South Yorkshire Police Sergeant Kelly Ward said: “Antisocial behaviour of this kind is extremely dangerous and will not be tolerated.

“We will be carrying out additional patrols along the route and working to identify those responsible. I want bus users to know that we are taking action.

“If anyone who is reading this knows or suspects their child might be involved, I would urge you to speak to them about the seriousness of what they’re doing.

“As well as the risk of damage and injury to drivers and passengers, this type of activity is stopping people getting to where they need to be.

“Anyone with information about the incidents can call 101 quoting incident number 608 07/06/22.”