7:00am Monday 6th September 2010
A GROUP of pensioners have handed over a petition to the council with 1,500 signatures against changes to a bus route they describe as their lifeline.
Cindy Matthews, 63, of Tithe Barn Crescent in Okus, started the petition against cuts to the number 23 service from Stratton Park to Okus in July.
The number 23 bus was altered at the weekend and now runs between Fleming Way, Walcot East, Coleview and Stratton Park and the number 22 has been re-routed to serve Okus and Old Town.
The current service only runs once an hour and the last one to go into town leaves at 3.45pm.
Cindy said: “I don’t think people have any idea how many people are affected by public transport cuts. We are fortunate in that we are car drivers but there are a lot of people that rely on this bus as it is there only way of getting around.
“We would be open to some negotiations but the bus as it is does not meet the people’s needs at all.”
Mary Brettell, 76, of Okus Road, does not drive and relies on the bus to get her around town.
“It is my lifeline,” she said.
“I use the buses several times a day. Lots of people use the bus and the doctor’s at the new surgery in Old Town are very worried because they relocated there originally because of the excellent bus service. “Now this means that many of their patients cannot get to the surgery and back again.”
Now the petition has been signed by 1,500 people, it will be debated at the next full council meeting at the end of the month.
Coun Bob Wright said: “If the council reduce the costs of car parking because they want to attract more people to the shops, cutting off a bus service is just as bad as high prices for car parking. They are cutting off their noses to spite their faces.”
Coun Derique Montaut, who has been involved with the issue since residents approached him with their concerns earlier this year added: “I welcome this petition and would urge the Leader of the Council to instigate a review of the changes to the number 23 bus service in light of the obvious public discontent with the changes.
“I think the fact that so many people have clearly outlined their attachment to the 23 bus service and public buses in general, shows that there is a place for state subsidised public transport.”
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