Horncastle police to extend BusBeat initiative

Their successful ‘Bus Beat’ scheme is being extended and for the first time officers will travel on the County Council’s fixed-route CallConnect service between Horncastle and Louth. The new route follows the successful Beat Bus pilot on the Stagecoach service between Horncastle and Wragby. Passengers will be able to meet with their local PCSO Nigel Wass to discuss any local issues that concern them whilst travelling on board the bus. The new Beat Bus will be launched next Wednesday (March 15) on board the CallConnect 6C service when the bus departs at 9.45am from Horncastle Interchange in the Market Place. Following the launch, PCSO Wass will hop on board weekly and travel to villages along the route. PCSO Wass, who has led the Bus Beat project since it began, said: “We are delighted to extend this project to some of the more rural communities we serve. “This is a great opportunity to meet more passengers and listen to their experiences and issues.” PCSO Wass added that the pilot scheme between Horncastle and Wragby had been a great success. He said officers were able to offer reassurance to passengers and pass on advice to prevent crime. Paul Sanders, Lincolnshire County Council’s manager of local bus services, said: “We are especially pleased that the Bus Beat community police initiative is to be extended onto the CallConnect 6C service which is part of the local bus service network. “It is good to see outreach programmes such as these happening on our rural bus service and we are delighted to work in partnership with Lincolnshire Police." *To find out more about Bus Beat, contact PCSO Nigel Wass by calling 101 - ext 4627 or email Nigel.Wass@lincs.pnn.police.uk. Alternatively for the timetable of the 6C, contact the CallConnect Booking Centre on 0345 234 3344.