Written evidence from B Daggers (BUS 68)
CUTS RE
NORWICH PARK
AND RIDE
SERVICES
In particular I refer to the Postwick Park and Ride.
I have used the Norwich Park and Ride Service for
some years. As a resident in rural Norfolk I have found it a reliable,
well run service giving excellent access to the city of Norwich.
Such a service encourages less use of our cars, reduces the use
of fossil fuels, pollution and congestion in Norwich and helps
the city to thrive in many respects.
I am concerned that the current cuts relating to
the service will act as a disincentive both to using the service
and as a knock on, less use people using the city whether for
shopping as well as its range of other facilities.
The closure of the toilets on isolated sites such
as the Postwick site means that people will arrive at the site
after car journeys of varying lengths to find no access to any
toilet facilities. This is a particular problem for people with
children, the elderly or disabled. The problem will be compounded
by the planned reduction in the frequency of buses. Some people
are using bushes on the site as 'toilets' which is totally unsuitable.
The closure of the buildings with staff and waiting
area means no one on site to deal with problems or queries. Members
of the public now wait for their bus in a windswept and isolated
place.
The empty buildings, waiting areas and unsupervised
car parking areas are likely to attract crime and vandalism. In
addition, there are issues of safety at quiet times and I have
felt very unsafe using the site when there no people around and
no staff.
The planned closure of a number of the sites on Saturdays
will simply mean that Norwich is not accessible for many people
at weekends. There are long queues for all Norwich car parks on
Saturdays and with the cancellation of the Park and Ride facility
I will not be going into Norwich on a Saturday. My shopping trips
and my voluntary work will have to cease.
The empty buildings, waiting areas and car parking
areas are likely to attract crime and vandalism.
In the light of the cuts, I will be going into Norwich
less frequently, certainly not on a Saturday and will be seeking
alternatives to the Park and Ride service.
In the future I hope that we may see some of the
services reinstated.
March 2011
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