A taxi and bus company offering vital services for schools and NHS patients in Maldon and Braintree has shut down operations. 

Essex and Suffolk Demand Responsive Transport (DaRT) bus services as well as its associated Arrow Taxis, have shut following an announcement on social media.

Arrow Passenger and Freight Services have been running their business in Station Road, Maldon since 1985. 

Working together with Essex County Council and the NHS, as well as undertaking schools and social services contracts for several years, the business was a crucial part of the community. 

Now, bosses at the company have announced the closure of the business, saying after falling passenger numbers following the Covid pandemic left the business with “no alternative option”. 

Closed - Arrow Taxi has announced its immediate closureClosed - Arrow Taxi has announced its immediate closure (Image: Google Street View)

In a statement, the company said: “It is with great regret, that we must announce that Essex and Suffolk DaRT/Arrow Taxis have ceased trading today Friday, July 26, 2024, with immediate effect.  

“As far as we are aware, the 45 route between Bradwell and South Woodham Ferrers will be taken over by Stephenson's of Essex, and the 322/3/4 routes will be taken over by First on emergency contract.  

“We have no knowledge of the plans for the other routes, so please contact Essex County Council for further information. We are so sorry for this, but had no alternative options.  

“The cause was losses of passenger numbers since 2020 and spiralling costs.  

“We would all like to sincerely thank all our passengers (friends) for supporting us over the years.  

“You have been a wonderful bunch of people and we loved serving you, and absolutely hate having let you down.” 

The DaRT was an alternative way of connecting rural areas to key services, where customers were able to book journeys with the operator in advance. 

The service was widely used for people to attend health appointments, do their shopping or to get to work, school or college where public transport options were unavailable and inconvenient.

The DaRT services took passengers across rural areas of the Braintree and Uttlesford districts as well as the Dengie Peninsula in Maldon.

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “We are sorry to hear that Essex and Suffolk DaRT and Arrow Taxis has ceased trading.

"They have been a close partner of Essex County Council, running bus services in Essex.

“We are working urgently to identify the best approach for the services previously run by the company and will update residents as soon as we are able to do so.”