Bus service after the Spending Review

Further written evidence from Cllr Andrew Turpin, South Somerset District Council (BUS 84a)

Severance of 30A evening and Sunday bus service - linking Axminster (Railway Station) Chard, Ilminster and Taunton including the main District General Hospital, Paddington Line / South West railway station and the National Express bus service.

Reference my earlier correspondence of 21st March 2011.

I have since been contacted by another distressed resident, a Mr K Roberts

He is unable to drive and is employed at the Little Chef near Ilminster. Using the bus in both directions, he is often required to do an evening shift and will on these occasions need to get the last bus back.

He has been told by his line manager that he could well lose his job if he is unable to get home as a result of the loss of our evening bus service.

I have contact details for some of those with learn difficulties in this area who will, from and including 17th April, be confined to Chard on a Sunday. They have, until now, been using this service every Sunday! (I meet them on my Sunday travels.) This is pitiful.

April 2011