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Residents’ fury over axing of vital bus routes
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| l Passengers protest against the bus timetable shake-up. |
Angry bus users across Halesowen have slammed proposals which they claim will rob them of "lifeline" bus services.
Passengers fear elderly and disabled residents will be trapped in their homes while commuters will face longer journeys to work because of radical changes to timetables in the town.
The shake-up, due to be introduced by operator National Express West Midlands at the end of April, includes the loss of direct services from several residential areas to Russells Hall Hospital and the scrapping of the peak period number 19 service from Hasbury to Birmingham.
Wendy Russell-Jones, of Dunstall Road, said travellers of all ages had been left confused and frustrated.
Wendy, who has started a leaflet campaign against the plan, said: "I am very angry. It's people's lives they are messing with.
"Many of us use the number 19 to get to work and the 248 service to Russells Hall is vital for elderly people. The bus service is a lifeline.
"Centro say they will fund socially necessary bus services - what could be more necessary than a service to the hospital?"
Residents have criticised the lack of information over route changes, while members of the town's branch of the West Midlands Pensioners Convention have also voiced disapproval.
Pensioner Jean Norwood, who lives near Princess Crescent, said changes to the 210 service would have a drastic effect on her and many of her neighbours.
From next month, the service will no longer stop on the road, forcing residents to walk to either Belle Vale or Fairmile Road to catch a bus.
Jean said: "The street has a lot of elderly residents who struggle to get around and this is going to make it very difficult for a lot of them."
Hayley Green councillor Hazel Turner, who is among several councillors to have voiced displeasure at the scheme, said timetable changes in her ward were not acceptable.
She said: "I don't think it has been thought out properly - we have been hit hard.
"It is cutting out services which people need and I am concerned with what is going to happen."
Phil Bateman, corporate affairs director for National Express West Midlands, said the changes would provide a better and more reliable service and claimed the withdrawal of the 19 service would improve reliability in peak periods.
He said: "We believe the changes get the best use out the resources we have available for operation.
"We will keep under review all the service changes with a view to tweaking' any of the route changes if fine tuning is required."
A spokesperson for Centro said the changes still fell within its strict criteria for providing socially necessary services.
3:20pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: ukip, halesowen on 4:35pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I wish to say that stopping any bus service at a time that the government is trying to get people to use public services is a disgrace, if the buses that are on these routes are not totally full then the bus service should provide a smaller bus or mini bus. Save and improve all bus services, all I can say to you all is remember to vote your councillor out at the up and coming local elections and vote in a new councillor who will hopefully get things done for the residents and the people of Halesowen.
Stuart Henley ukip-halesowen.org
I wish to say that stopping any bus service at a time that the government is trying to get people to use public services is a disgrace, if the buses that are on these routes are not totally full then the bus service should provide a smaller bus or mini bus. Save and improve all bus services, all I can say to you all is remember to vote your councillor out at the up and coming local elections and vote in a new councillor who will hopefully get things done for the residents and the people of Halesowen.
Stuart Henley ukip-halesowen.org
Posted by: Arma pacis fulcra, Halesowen on 7:56pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Don't make childish promises about things you know nothing about, Stuart.
These changes are being made by National Express for their own commercial reasons. Meanwhile, Cllr Turner is fighting hard to get alternative services reinstated where possible.
However, the million dollar question is 'what are Ludlows Buses doing?'. If ever there was now an open goal for them to fill with a few more bus services of their own (as Hansons have successfully done in Stourbridge and Brierley Hill), then here it is - ! What the hell are they waiting for?
Don't make childish promises about things you know nothing about, Stuart.
These changes are being made by National Express for their own commercial reasons. Meanwhile, Cllr Turner is fighting hard to get alternative services reinstated where possible.
However, the million dollar question is 'what are Ludlows Buses doing?'. If ever there was now an open goal for them to fill with a few more bus services of their own (as Hansons have successfully done in Stourbridge and Brierley Hill), then here it is - ! What the hell are they waiting for?
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