The public transport scene is definitely warming up. At long last we have the plight of the rural bus service being brought to the forefront. A recent call for evidence by the County All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and the County council Network (CCN) began by stating:
Introduction
The County All Party Parliamentary Group (County APPG) is undertaking an independent inquiry into the decline of rural bus services in county and rural areas with the County Councils Network (CCN). The County APPG was established to act as an influential forum to raise county issues – and opportunities – in Parliament and around Westminster, and is currently chaired by Peter Aldous, the MP for Waveney. For more information, see: www.countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/advocacy/ccn-in-parliament/county-appg/. The CCN is the national voice of England’s 36 county authorities. A cross-party organisation, CCN develops policy and commissions research on behalf of counties and provides the secretariat for the APPG. For more information, see: www.countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk.
Background
Bus services in rural areas provide a lifeline to many residents, but it is widely recognised that their number and frequency have been in decline over the past few years. The Campaign for Better Transport recently analysed Department for Transport figures and found that over 3,000 bus routes have been reduced, altered or withdrawn between 2010 and 2018. Linked to this, a joint inquiry in 2018 into Social Mobility between the County APPG, CCN and Localis found that the reduction in bus services is having a negative impact on the social mobility of residents in county areas in terms of access to skills and education.
The full document can be found on www.countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk
About time the rural bus got a hearing. The Herefordshire sustainable Transport Group has sent two reports in connection with this call for evidence. These reports are available on the RBfH website.
Gareth Calan Davies
My year 8 son commutes to a grammar school in Gloucester from Ross-on- Wye. I recognise that this a neccesity but my was my decision.
Since investigsting the possibility of Gloucester secondary schools for my child when he was in year 5, the bus timetables have changed multiple times. It was once feasible for a cohort of kids from Ross to catch a 7:15am bus to Gloucester. It then became 6:52, and now 6:20 am
When enquirying about the changes, I was told very politely, that the cohort of school children commuting to Gloucester were not a priority. Along the bus route multiple other children are picked up and I cannot understand the flippancy towards a potentially sizeable daily customer base. Bus timetable changes each September are a complete headache when all plans need to be redrawn. I like most other parents have made other arrangements for school commuting meaning yet more traffic on the rosds and the bus route has lost customers. If a reliable bus run was to be in place that could get kids to Gloucester for 8am, I think you will find the market grow. There is a desire to send kids to schools in Gloucester from all around the city but Ross and possibly other areas are not served by the private bus companies yet. The public bus could service this demand and give it a few years, when parents know there is a RELIABLE transport option the customer base will grow. It is a chicken and egg situation right now, and with losers all round.
If buses went between Tenbury Wells and Leominster I could catch one on the A4112 between Leysters and Kimbolton and would not need to drive a car as this would connect me with other links.
No buses here so I had to learn to drive when I moved to rural Herefordshire. I think there may have been one on market day which returned 2 hours later and stopped on a back road.