Bus service cuts start (Epsom & Ewell Liberal Democrats)

Bus service cuts start

December 6, 2009 6:18 PM

Residents all over Surrey may soon be wondering where their bus has gone

We warned last May that the Conservatives would start cutting bus services, once the county council elections on 4th June were safely out of the way. In October we learnt that the Pegasus school bus scheme will end next July, causing additional environmental problems and traffic chaos as well as giving problems to thousands of parents faced with getting their children to school. Now Surrey County Council is consulting on a 'Bus Review' aimed at cutting costs of other bus services by at least 20%.

This review is in three phases, depending upon when existing contracts are due for renewal, with Epsom & Ewell in phase 3. However some local services face earlier threats, including the 460 service to Redhill, all cross-border routes into Greater London and our three Friday shoppers' specials operated using Pegasus buses.

The Related Link below leads to SCC's initial proposals for the 460. These include an improved frequency as far as Merland Rise with "evening and Sunday services to be considered", which is far from clear. Users of this service should contact the County Council for details. E-mail busreview@surreycc.gov.uk, phone call 03456 009 009 or write to Bus Review, Passenger Transport Group, Room 314, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2DY. Residents have until the end of January 2010 to comment. Changes will be introduced from September 2010.

Routes 166, 293, 406, 418, 467 and 470 operating across the border into Greater London face a separate threat from the Mayor of London's bus service review, but so far no details are known.

It is not yet clear what will happen to Pegasus shoppers' routes 620, 622 and 623 in July.

Epsom & Ewell Liberal Democrats

Working to make Epsom & Ewell an even better place to live and work