New bus stop installed in village with no bus services

Residents have renewed calls for a bus service in their village after a new stop was installed despite no buses running for almost 10 years.

People in Egginton, Derbyshire, said they felt cut off after the hourly V2 Villager was withdrawn in 2017, forcing people to travel in cars or taxis to access services in nearby towns and villages.

Kathryn Bishop, 77, who had reported the previous stop was damaged, said: "It was humorous at first. But I couldn't believe it when I looked out of the window a couple of days later to see the new one being put up."

The East Midlands Combined County Authority said the stop in Main Street was installed in case services returned in the future.

The V2 was removed by operator trentbarton due to low passenger numbers.

Egginton does not have a shop, post office or GP surgery, which means residents have to access those services outside of the village.

"The demographics of the village have changed," said parish councillor Tanina Rushton.

"Now we have the youngsters that need transport and we have the ageing population and the disabled and of course there's the environment."

The parish council recently started a petition calling for a bus service to be reinstated.

"I've got a car but in years to come I would need transport to get into Derby and Burton," said long-term Egginton resident Roz Wherly.

"A bus gives you freedom to travel, to go and meet people, do your shopping, everything."

Nine-year-old Ruby has also backed the campaign to get a bus service reinstated.

"When I'm older I could take the bus to get to school and that would be easier than having to drive me," she said.

"I could also go to the shops or see my friends."

Driving instructor Natalie Jordan, who lives in Egginton, said young people in the village were left disadvantaged by the lack of public transport.

"Socially, they can't go anywhere, so it's really hard for them. One lad's parents moved to the village, thinking the bus stop meant there would be a bus," she said.

"He found a job in Stretton, which is only a village away, but couldn't get there so he had to take a taxi every day until he passed his test - it holds people back."

Lynn Haywood, who moved to Egginton 35 years ago, said it then had a regular bus service as well as a village shop.

Her daughter moved away after an epilepsy diagnosis meant she was unable to drive.

"The loss of the bus had a real impact on us," she said.

"If Emily wants to visit us we have to pick her up from Mickleover or Etwall because the roads between the villages don't have footpaths."

Derbyshire County Council said the East Midlands Combined County Authority was responsible for bus services as of February.

An East Midlands Combined County Authority spokesperson said: "The decision to move the bus stop on Main Street, Egginton, was made by Derbyshire County Council in 2025, before East Midlands Combined County Authority took over responsibility for local bus services in 2026.

"The original bus stop pole had become badly corroded and posed a safety risk, so it was removed and replaced at the nearest suitable location in December 2025.

"Egginton was previously served by trentbarton's Villager V2 service, which was withdrawn in 2017 due to low passenger numbers. So, although Egginton doesn't currently have a regular bus service, the stop was kept in place in case services return in the future."

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