Off-peak victory in battle for buses (From Swindon Advertiser)

Off-peak victory in battle for buses

1:40pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in News By David Wiles

Jim Hayes, who is one of those who wants the bus service reinstated

A SPECIAL bus service will be laid on for vulnerable people isolated by the axing of routes to two communities.

Residents and ward councillors started campaigns when Thamesdown Transport cut service 21, for Penhill and Pine-hurst, and service 23, which ran through Coleview.

Thamesdown said its changes, from January 8, were needed because the services were not commercially viable.

But critics said the move restricted access to vital services, particularly for pensioners.

Now Swindon Council plans to pay £14,994 for the bus firm to provide an off-peak service for Coleview and the Penhill Valley for a up to a year while long-term solutions are sought.

If the proposal is approved by the cabinet on February 15, the off-peak service would start within eight weeks.

It would visit Sainsbury’s Stratton, Nythe Road Shops, Fleming Way, Tesco in Ocotal Way, St Barnabas Church in Gorse Hill, The Circle in Pinehurst, and Downton Road in Penhill.

Jim Hayes, 75, of Penhill, who used the 21 bus, said many pensioners and mothers with buggies struggled to make it up the steep hill to catch another bus.

The grandfather-of-eight, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and now needs a taxi to get around, said: “It’s been tough. And the older people down there are the same as me. They can’t get out .

“Some of them just cannot afford taxis. A lot of people have had to get other people to get their bits and pieces for them from the shops.”

Coun Paul Baker (Lab, Penhill) said: “I don’t think the council realised how much it was hurting people. But the strength of the columns in the Adver and the letters shows it’s a service that’s widely needed.”

Coun Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Nythe), whose council motion on January 12 led to the proposal, said: “It’s a limited off-peak service, but it allows many elderly residents who have contacted me to continue to do their shopping and to visit their GP.

“I will continue to put the pressure on to have the full service reinstated.”

Council leader Rod Bluh said it was possible other bus routes could be affected in the future, due to developers’ contributions running out, so a cross-party working group would be set up to investigate options.

Solutions could involve more use of community transport, but the council could not afford the £218,454 annual subsidy to reinstate the lost services.