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 Bus Services must improve say local council to Wilts and Dorset Bus Company. Wilts and Dorset, part of the Go-Ahead Group, recently made contentious changes to services in Christchurch and Highcliffe area from end of May this year.
The 121, 123 routes along with the cross-conurbation fast M2 service were curtailed and altered leaving parts of the St. Catherines, sections of north Highcliffe and Walkford without a bus link.
These services were replaced with the X12 service. However the X12 service route did include the Royal Bournemouth Hospital which although a good idea at the time, doesn't enter the hospital grounds, leaving passengers having to negoiate the multi-way Castle Lane near the Littledown centre and the hospital via multiple pedestrian light-controlled crossings. This a nightmare to some people whether able-bodied or not.
The C1 and C2 services are a temporary measure to get Christchurch residents to the hospital operating at ninety minute intervals till 2.20pm which is the last service time. Wilts & Dorset say this is due to be reviewed in October. All these changes to bus routes lead to nearly 2000 people signing petitions to the loss of the 123 service alone.
At the last Community services committee meeetng, transport and highways manager Bob Baker 's report highlighted the fact that the C1 and C2 services were very limited indeed and not of great benefit to users who need to change buses to access other areas. He also said that the service had not been well promoted and many people were unaware of the service running although it had been available for nearly six weeks.
Recommendations were to enter into discussions with Wilts and Dorset and Dorset County Council with views to keeping the services, improving the timetable and extending the route to include the Highcliffe and the hospital.
The council has been petitioned again over this service and one petitioner said that the inclusion of River Way would be beneficial to the company and residents. However, he said they were not marketing themselves very well. Placing leaflets on the buses is preaching to the "already converted". The leaflets should be placed in comunity centres and halls. |
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