A NEW bus service is operating in Clough.
The Downpatrick to Ballykinlar service is being extended to Clough from this month. The extended Translink service will run from Monday to Friday, excluding weekends.
Down Senior Forum, in partnership with Newry Mourne and Down District Council, Age Friendly and the Co Down Rural Network, had been advocating for the new service.
Mark Murnin, chairman of Newry, Mourne and Down Council, said: “We are delighted to launch this valuable service in partnership with Translink.
“This will benefit local residents in the area particularly the vulnerable and elderly. I would encourage all to make use of this fantastic service.”
Age Friendly chairman Eoin Devlin said: “The Age Friendly initiative aims to make Newry Mourne and Down District Council a great place to grow older, and one which supports, values and enables older people to play a full role in the community life of the area.
“The introduction of an extended rural bus route will enable those citizens from Clough to use public transport to shop and socialise, safe in the knowledge that they can get back to Clough via a main bus route.”
Down Senior Forum member Hugh Scott said: “We are committed to tackling issues which affect older residents of the Down area. Transport particularly in rural areas has risen continually as a key issue within the forum.”
Translink Service Delivery Manager Ciaran McHugh, who reshuffled the Downpatrick timetable to facilitate the initiative, said: “It is a great opportunity for us to partner with other agencies to tackle and promote issues of concern to residents of the area.”