ALLEGATIONS that some bus services in the Isle of Man will be reduced by half with new winter timetables have been rejected this morning in the House of Keys.

Minister for Community Culture and Leisure Tim Crookall said that some “minor changes” had been made for the new winter timetable, but said that any suggestion the some services had been halved were “out of the question”.

Ramsey MHK Leonard Singer suggested that “from what he had heard” some of the services to the people in Ramsey were to be reduced by 50% and tabled a question to the Minister at today’s sitting.

Mr Crookall responded with a straight denial that such a cut in services were in the department’s plans and invited Mr Singer to provide detailed information.

Mr Crookall also faced questions on the bus timetables from Bill Henderson (North Douglas) where he claimed residents of Governor’s Hill and Willaston were “very upset” by the proposed new timetable which particularly affected the elderly and their visits to the hospital.

Mr Crookall added, “We have to make savings and this is what’s happening here. I accept that some people will be put out . . . But it has to be understood that this is a situation I have inherited and I will deal with it.”

John Houghton (North Douglas) claimed that for much of the time the bus timetables meant that there were buses running “empty of passengers” and invited the Minister to visit Willaston to see for himself what was happening - an invitation he refused.

He added, “I am happy to look at any evidence from Members and report back.”