| BUS SERVICE SAVED FROM TERMINATION |
 A local bus service which runs between Abbots and Watford has been saved after it was due to be terminated at the start of February. The 318 Metroline service, along with the company’s 346 service which runs between Garston and Watford, has now been saved after a deal was struck between bus company Mullany’s Coaches, Hertfordshire County Council, Three Rivers District Council and Watford Borough Council at a meeting on Friday January 16. The 318 Metroline service runs every half an hour from Abbots, through Leavesden and onto Watford Town Centre, but due to the service apparently not making enough money, it was due to come to an end in the next couple of weeks. However, after the three councils agreed that they would be willing to put an equal amount in to subsidise the services, the route will now be taken over by Mullany’s on February 6 when Metroline terminate their service. My Abbots News has been inundated with emails, letters and phone calls concerning this issue, with residents concerned that they were due to lose what has been a very reliable service. Abbots resident, Sarah Lynch, is a regular user of the service and was disappointed to be told by her driver that the service would no longer be running. She told My Abbots News: “I was really surprised and disappointed when I was told the service was ending because it is almost always full. I cannot believe that it is not making any money because lots of people use the service.” Sarah continued: “It would be a great loss as both my friends and I use it regularly. The service is very prompt, the drivers are very helpful and I want to know why it is being taken away from us?” Another Abbots resident, Mrs Hunt, was equally as shocked as Ms Lynch when she was told the news of the service coming to an end. She told MyAbbots News: “What I can’t understand is we use the service twice a week and very rarely get a seat. I used to get another bus into Watford which was very unreliable, but this little bus is on the dot and the drivers are the friendliest I have come across.” Thanks to Mullany’s owner, Kevin Crawford, the hard work of the three councils and County Councillor Paul Goggins, the service will now operate under the same timetable as Metroline’s, which is sure to please many residents who feared the prospect of having to turn to their cars or the Number 8 Arriva Service. Metroline currently operate out of Mullany’s HQ in Garston, so it is hoped that there shouldn’t be too much change. There is even hope that the friendly and polite bus drivers that the residents have praised may be retained by Mullany’s. Abbots Langley County Councillor Paul Goggins said: "This is wonderful news and a great
tribute to those who have collected signatures for the petition across Abbots Langley. As someone who has used the route, I know how useful it is for Abbots Langley residents. I hope that the 318 goes from strength to strength with Mullany’s and continues to serve the village for many years to come.” Local councillors were at pains to point out that the agreement to save the 318 had been made before the recent coffee morning held to discuss its future. Parish Council and District Councillor Sara Bedford said: "For the past few weeks, local councillors in Watford and Three Rivers have been responding to the many people who have contacted us about the 318. We have worked with our colleagues at Watford Council, especially Mayor Dorothy Thornhill, who was instrumental in bringing Kevin Crawford from Mullany’s to the table. I'd like to thank Mr Crawford for his willingness to help keep the service going and Councillor Goggins, who once again has worked tirelessly on an important local issue.” The agreement to save the bus will be reviewed in six months time. Cllr Goggins added: "I hope that residents will leave their cars at home and support the 318 more than ever - it really is 'Use it or you may lose it'."
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