Pupils at a Cumbrian primary school have come up with a creative way to try and keep their local bus service on the road.
The children at Kirkbride Primary School have produced artwork for a poster, postcard and leaflet to be used in a campaign to encourage people to use the 93/93A, which links Kirkbride, Anthorn, Bowness-on-Solway and Burgh-by-Sands with Carlisle.
The striking colourful graphic features landmark buildings such as Burgh by Sands Church, wildlife from sheep to butterflies, ships in the Solway, even a unicorn and, of course, the 93 bus.
The Stagecoach route was almost axed last year until pupils launched a campaign to save it, enlisting the help of two MPs who persuaded the former Allerdale and Carlisle local authorities to step in with a temporary subsidy.
This latest initiative aims to attract more passengers to the service, which runs five times a day, six days a week to make sure it keeps going when the subsidy ends next year.
Headteacher Karen Barley said: “I’m incredibly proud of the children and staff. It’s really important that, although we’re a small school, we have a big voice and have a big impact on the local community.”
Artist Abby Kilfedder, of Artscool, who helped the children to create the artwork said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the children at Kirkbride Primary School. The children had so many imaginative and fun ideas, and drew beautiful illustrations that we developed into the final design. They really enjoyed the opportunity to work on such a big scale with our lovely, bright coloured paints. I’m delighted with their final creation, it’s absolutely stunning.”
The poster will go up at Carlisle bus station and in the bus shelter opposite the school and postcards will be free on the bus along with a leaflet – which lists things to see and do along the route – will be widely available. The attractions mentioned include Drumburgh Moss, a National Nature Reserve; the RSPB Solway Wetlands Centre; a monument to Edward I, the infamous ‘hammer of the Scots’; and the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail.
Niamh Wharton, aged 10, devised the strapline for the artwork, ‘This bus isn’t just for journeys, it’s for adventures!’ She said: “I went on adventures with my nan. We used to get the bus to Carlisle every Saturday. I would look out of the window and there was always something to see – the scenery, the birds, the old railway line.”
Niamh was one of the pupils from Kirkbride who attended the Youth Climate Summit in Carlisle last October to talk about their campaign.
James Mattinson, aged nine, was inspired to get involved after a regular bus user, June Glendinning, came to talk to the children. He said: “If the bus wasn’t there, she wouldn’t be able to go shopping, get to hospital or see her family. She wouldn’t be able to do anything.”
Teacher Anna Howe praised the children for the way they had embraced the campaign. She said: “We were reading about Greta Thunberg and climate change. The issue really resonated with them. When it came up that the local bus was at risk, they were passionate to get involved.”
The interim managing director of Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire, Tom Waterhouse, visited the school last week to see the artwork.
He too was impressed. He said: “This campaign has shown how vital the bus service is to the local community. We hope we can keep working in partnership with Cumberland Council so that the service continues.”
More information about the 93/93A route, including times can be found on the Stagecoach website.
