Late night buses proposal

LATE night buses with police guards will soon hit the roads, in a bid to wipe out street brawling.

The buses, which will run until 2.30am, are the latest move to disperse drunken crowds and calm the streets - but cabbies fear the service may damage their trade.

Graeme Wallis, secretary of the Hastings Taxi Association, said: "There are worries, and we will be monitoring what impact it has. Obviously the police want to move the masses away and we want to help people disperse at night. The idea is sound as long as it doesn't effect our livelihood."

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Two buses will run from 11.30pm-2.30am on Fridays and Saturdays through December, both from the town centre, one to Hollington and the other to Ore.

Two police officers will be on board each bus to watch out for any problem passengers.

The service will be on a trial basis through the

festive month, when

drinking is at its height. Passengers will be charged a flat fare of 1 for their journey. If it proves popular, the service could become permanent.

Tom Bridge, Stagecoach manager, said: "Police are concerned about all the trouble in the evenings. "There doesn't seem to be enough taxis to take

people home quickly after a night out.

"This will hopefully make the town a safer place.

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"If it is successful we would want to continue the service."

Mr Wallis added: "If there is a big impact on the taxis we will go back to the council. But the buses will not go down all the side streets - we will still be the superior service as we go door to door. The public will suss this."

David Furness with the Safer Hastings Partnership and Inspector Martin Sims have held meetings with Stagecoach, and taxi drivers are being consulted.

A meeting was due to be held yesterday to thrash out the finer details of the service.