| Subject |
Tobias
Ellwood MP has called for the Council to act to protect Bournemouth's
bus services
|
| Ref |
PR/06-144 |
| Date |
Tuesday
20th June 2006 |
Tobias Ellwood
MP has asked Bournemouth Borough Council to challenge Transdev's
decision to cut a number of bus services across Bournemouth.
Changes which
are due to come into effect next week will have far reaching consequences
for the area. The scrapping of the No. 27 bus service to Boscombe
pier will be one of the most critical moves, removing the only public
transport link to a key tourist attraction.
Despite being
given the chance to comment on all of Transdev's proposed changes
to the town's bus routes on 5th April, Bournemouth Borough Council
did not raise a single objection. The Council did however receive
around £13m from the sale of the Yellow Buses, funds which
Tobias argues should now be used to protect some key services.
Commenting on
the cuts Tobias said:
"Many residents,
particularly the elderly, will be affected by the cuts in services
across Bournemouth. Concern was expressed across the borough about
the consequences of fully privatising the Yellow Buses. If all of
Transdev's cuts are implemented those concerns will have been realised.
The decision
to cut the No. 27 bus route raises serious questions about the regeneration
of Boscombe. On the one hand the Council tells us not to use our
cars, whilst on the other it facilitates the end of the only public
transport service to Boscombe beach.
There is an
argument that the proposed surf reef will help regenerate the Boscombe
area. But the loss of the end of the pier (and therefore pleasure
trips), the loss of half of the seafront parking facilities to housing
development and the loss of the only public transport link to the
seaside suggest a less than coherent strategy for the area."
|
