With the sad news that Trent Barton are cancelling the Route 21 from the 2nd October I recently contacted them about this.
I also asked if they could divert an I4 and bring it around Church Street, Pasture Road, Melbourne Road, Ilkeston Road, Hickings Lane, Ewe Lamb Lane then back onto Derby Road.
You can find the reply from Trent Barton below.
Good morning Councillor MacRae
Thank you for your email. As you are aware of the changes, I’m sure you are aware of our rationale behind them, but with the suggestion you made, I asked our Commercial Manager for his thoughts regarding possible changes to the i4.
From a purely logistical perspective we would have serious concerns that there is not enough time in the vehicle workings to allow the buses to do any deviations away from the core route, as it adds at least 5 minutes extra each way. We need to allow for recovery time in our timetables to minimise the impact of any delays to our customers. We are also conscious that one of the strengths of a simple route is the ease of remembering them and making changes hourly etc does little to assist in that regard.
When we were putting these changes together, we liaised at great length with Nottinghamshire CC about the impact on Stapleford and as a result of this review, we will be running a Sunday service on the old 18 route to replace the 20 service which will be lost.
The area will still have my15 and i4 and whilst we appreciate this is not a direct replacement for what will be lost, those services offer a range of options in terms of destination, potentially by connecting between them.
We completely understand this will have a negative impact on some customers, and we are truly sorry for any problems this causes.
Kind Regards
I have also spoken to CT4N and asked if they would be able to pick up this route to replace the 21 and they have replied telling me this simply don’t have the capacity to do so.
Independent Councillor Richard MacRae 
So people that live round Melbourne road and surrounding road will have to walk 20 mins to get to a i4 route to nottingham. What about the people can’t walk that far
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This means that if you live hickings lane /braddon avenue/ewe lamb lane you now have to walk 10/ 15 mins to Derby road to get a bus . Alright if you’re young and fit but what about the older or infirm people . Appalling service .😡😡
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.This will make it very difficult for the many patients of the Hickings Lane Medical Centre who live a, Stapleford and Bramcote and Trowell who rely on this service to attend appointments. This isn’t a very encouraging prospect as winter looms ahead with cold and wet weather conditions – this ten to fifteen minute walk is hardly going to help those who are already feeling poorly. And, it will be extremely difficult for those with mobility problems, etc.
Connections time to get to Trowell Park from the Festival or Stapleford are impossible – a long walk with heavy shopping if you miss the connection; generally the case at the moment.. One of the biggest problems with the current times of the 21 is that it arrives too close to the times of the 15 and this splits it’s usefulness for customers travelling on the route.
Surely a better solution can be found. Hoping they will rethink this very precious route – feeling very sad and unhappy about this as I cannot drive and depend on the buses for transport.
Thank you – hoping for a positive and considerate response from Trentbarton who I have always in the past supported for their service.
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Reblogged this on Bramcote Today.
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All above is ‘Deliciously ‘Vague’ i.e. What ‘Route’ Will this ‘New’ SUNday’s ONLY 18 actually be taking Hickings/Ewe Lamb Lane Up through Village!? &Will it be circumnavigating Beeston Rylands ‘via ‘Canalside’!? Will it (as I Suspect NOT!) Connect with Hourly 15 service @Stapleford to provide an onward service to/from Long Eaton >IlkestonI!? As a Retired’ Front Line ‘Transport Supervisor with over 42 Year’s service I can appreciate ‘Logistics’ involved with ‘Diagramming Bus Crews etc.,!
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