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Cuxton teenager tries to save the scrapped Arriva 151 bus serving Chatham, Rochester, Strood, Cuxton and Halling

12:07, 25 August 2019

updated: 12:08, 25 August 2019

A 17-year-old boy says he will "do anything he can" in a bid to save a bus service.

From Sunday, September 1 the 151 Arriva bus evening service will be scrapped, leaving passengers travelling from Chatham to Cuxton and Halling with limited public transport.

And it prompted Cuxton teenager Cameron Abbotts to start campaigning to save his local bus route.

Cameron Abbotts is trying to launch a campaign to save the evening 151 bus service (15711409)
Cameron Abbotts is trying to launch a campaign to save the evening 151 bus service (15711409)

He said: "Without the buses people will be forced to either get the train and walk at least 40 minutes, or they'll have to get a car, which goes against the whole point of public transport.

"It may not be the biggest bus but there is usually around 10 to 15 people on it.

"Quite a lot of younger girls get the bus. If it stops running - and with it starting to get darker soon - they will have to walk home in the dark. It's not safe and I think it's disgusting.

The 151 bus picks up passengers in Chatham (15711406)
The 151 bus picks up passengers in Chatham (15711406)

"When I'm on the bus I've been telling people that it is going to be cut because no one seems to realise.

"I don't think it has been advertised properly."

The Arriva website says the evening 151 bus from Chatham, to Rochester, Strood, Cuxton and Halling, provided under contract to Medway Council will no longer run due to expiry of the contract.

When Cameron is not working on the Kent and East Sussex Railway, he has started up a Facebook page for people against the closures to communicate and protest together.

The 151 evening bus service from Chatham to Rochester, Strood, Cuxton and Halling will be cut from September, 1 (15711402)
The 151 evening bus service from Chatham to Rochester, Strood, Cuxton and Halling will be cut from September, 1 (15711402)

Cameron said: "I'm planning on putting out posters, getting people together to demonstrate at bus stations.

"I'll do a petition if that's what it takes.

"I'll do anything I can to save the bus service."

Click here to join the process through the Facebook page.

Arriva and Medway Council have been contacted for comments.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway

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