Written evidence from J Bosley (BUS 08)
SUMMARY
1. This evidence is in reference to the withdrawal
in January 2009 of the 639 bus service from Wednesbury to Walsall
via Darlaston Road. The service had been operated by National
Express West Midlands, but was stopped as the operator claimed
there were not enough users to make it viable.
2. I am a local resident. I was one of the organisers
of a petition expressing concern at the way the service was cancelled,
and claiming that the reason was not lack of use, but the failings
of the operator to run a reliable service. The petition called
on National Express West Midlands and Centro, the local transport
authority, to take steps to remedy the situation and reinstate
the route.
WITHDRAWAL OF
THE SERVICE
3. It is all very well for Centro to claim that
the nearest bus stops (in Darlaston) are only a 400m walk, but
400m is a very long way, especially for elderly or disabled people.
4. The 79 bus is an alternative, but it leaves
people with a steep walk uphill. For elderly people this can be
impossible, especially if they have to carry shopping. If the
79 is held up then residents have no service at all.
5. People now have to take three buses to reach
the Manor Hospital (one into Darlaston, then one to Walsall, then
one to the Hospital). An elderly person cannot be expected to
do that.
6. I suffer from arthritis and the walk is very
difficult for me, even though I live closer to the current route
than many local elderly people.
7. Elderly people are really struggling. While
going from house to house with the petition, I found that many
elderly people said they were just not going out anymore. Without
an accessible bus stop they decided to stay at home. It is hard
for people to rely on their families for transportation anymore,
because everyone is so busy.
8. Younger people are also suffering the lack
of service. There are many young families on the complex and many
of them work in Walsall. They have to pay twice to get to work
as they must change buses. This also takes much more time.
9. Centro suggest using the Ring & Ride.
I would not use the Ring & Ride because it goes all around
the houses. I have also heard reports that there may be cutbacks
to this service.
10. Using another alternative route (catching
the hourly 327 on Franchise Street), which provides links to the
Kings Hill area, involves walking between a park and a field.
This is not safe, especially for the elderly, vulnerable and lone
travellers.
FUTURE SERVICES
11. Residents would welcome even an hourly service
along Darlaston Road.
12. There are new builds being constructed across
the road from where I live, and there will be people living in
the bungalows who would benefit from the service.
13. Centro and National Express have justified
withdrawing the 639 service as they say it was only used by four
or five people. Yet there are other services between Darlaston
and Walsall with only a few users. Why is it not possible to merge
these services and divert the route to cover Darlaston Road, at
least occasionally?
14. Centro and the bus operators are only looking
at the negatives and not at the positives when making their decisions
about the routes.
December 2010
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