Bus Éireann and Mahon residents solve 202 dispute

BUS Eireann is safe from any further pickets after a deal on the 202 bus route was struck with Mahon residents last night.
Cllr Chris O’Leary, Sinn Fein, said that he was sorry for the disruption that was caused on Monday, but said that it worked, and a compromise was reached.
Effectively, the old 202 route will now be restored, alternating with the 202A route, which will keep the changes made by Bus Eireann during the summer. This will come into effect a week from Monday.

Buses leaving Capwell this week after a protest by residents was called off. Picture Dan Linehan

Locals met in the Mahon Community Centre last night to discuss the proposal from Bus Eireann, and it was unanimously supported.
However, Mr O’Leary said that the whole ordeal could have been prevented if meetings like that had taken place before the changes were implemented.
“We certainly apologise, but the outcome was successful. All that could have been prevented if there had been conversations. We have learned lessons, and we hope that Bus Eireann would learn lessons too,” he said.
Mr O’Leary said that the new compromise actually offered more options to more people than the old 202 route by itself.
A week ago, residents picketed on Skehard Road calling for the old route to be restored. This was followed by a controversial protest on Monday, when dozens of locals blocked the Capwell Bus Depot, preventing any buses from leaving and disrupting the commutes of thousands of people.
However, this action led to a meeting with Bus Eireann management, and the proposal to revert the route while keeping the new one.