HAVE YOUR SAY ON BUS SERVICES IN GODALMING AREA
By PatHill | Wednesday, November 02, 2011, 14:58
What do you think of the bus services in the Godalming area?
-
Have your say about bus services around Godalming
It is one of the hottest topics that effects thousands of people in our area.
Well now people in the Godalming area are being offered the chance to have their say about what they want from the service...and what they think about it...whilst being able to save £2.5 million of Surrey County Council's budget.
The final stage of the public consultation will run until 31 January to find out what people think of a series of proposals put forward to change the way bus services are run.
People in Godalming can voice their opinion at a meeting being held on December 1st at the town library on 10am to 1pm
Ian Lake, Surrey County Council's Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "It is vital that we offer the best possible services for as many people as we can while giving Surrey taxpayers maximum value for money.
"Surrey's bus services became a hotch potch of different routes over the years, which has resulted in full buses on some routes and empty ones on others. This review is an opportunity to go back to the drawing board to make sure services are run where they are needed most.
"In 2009 it cost us £11 million to subsidise public bus routes and it would cost us £13 million by 2012 without action.
"It is only right that bus passengers help us change services and I thank those who have already been involved and look forward to hearing from people during this consultation."
When the countywide review was launched two years ago, the council subsidised three out of four of the 250 services in Surrey because bus operators believed they were not commercially viable. On some routes the council was paying around £20 to subsidise a single return journey.
The subsidy for public bus services in Surrey tripled in the eight years from 2001, leaving taxpayers to pick up the bill. By 2009, the cost was £11 million and it would have reached £13m by 2012 without action being taken.
After the review's first phase*, five new Sunday services were included in the timetable because residents said they wanted them introduced and £1.7m was also saved for taxpayers. The second stage** saw more buses running on routes where demand was strong and fewer services where use was lower while saving £800,000.
In both cases, the changes were shaped by the views of residents.
The full details of the proposals and information on ways for people to find our more or give their views can be found at www.surreycc.gov.uk/busreview.
They are also available in Surrey's libraries or by calling 03456 009009.
If agreed, any changes would take place from September 2012.
* Covering Elmbridge, Runnymede, Spelthorne, east Woking and Reigate and Banstead.
** In Surrey Heath, west Woking (including some services in Guildford) and Tandridge.
MEANWHILE YOU CAN ADD YOUR OPINION ABOUT LOCAL BUS SERVICES ON THIS SITE. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. SO ADD YOUR VOICE NOW!
Comments
These plans are going to virtually destroy a decent bus service in the Godalming area!
Have they even considered what will happen to the people who have to rely on buses to get around. God knows it's bad enough as it is now, without cutting it back even further.
No wonder Waverley want as many people as possible to voice their opinions.
Cllr David Munro, councillor responsible for community services at Waverley Borough Council insists: "Striving to give taxpayers maximum value for money has to be the aim of all councils. For its part, Waverley is taking this consultation seriously and will be providing its own comments as the decisions taken will affect our residents.
"I would urge bus users in Waverley to take the time to read what is in the bus review and make comments. The county council has carried out two other bus reviews in other parts of Surrey and, where possible, it has taken account of peoples' views.
"For some people, bus services are an essential lifeline and their disappearance can devastate whole communities, so we won't hesitate to champion services under threat where they are vitally needed."
By kevineone at 16:48 on 04/11/11
ReportHaving read the proposals we in Godalming are once again getting the worst service in Surrey. Whilst other areas have seen an increase in services Godalming and the surrounding areas will suffer. The proposals are on Route 46, Guildford to Aldershot via Binscombe and Elstead. Service will either run hourly between Guildford and Godalming only going through to Aldershot every 2 hours, or every 2 hours between Elstead and Guildford with nothing going to Aldershot. Service 70 Guildford to Midhurst with connections to Worthing and Bognor Regis service withdrawn. Service 71, this to run every 1/2 hour to Witley only, with a possibility of a service every 2 hours on a Sunday, nothing to Chiddingfold or Haslemere. Service 92, Guildford to Ockford Ridge, no change. Service 42/44 Guildford to Cranleigh to be every 90 minutes. Bus users will under the proposals have no direct route to other parts of Waverley except to Cranleigh, we will have no service to Haslemere or Farnham and Aldershot. They say that they are doing it because the services are under used, they obviously have not travelled on these services especially on a Saturday when the 70 for instance is always full. By doing away with the services from Chiddingfold, Wormley, Brook, Grayswood, Shackleford, Hurtmore, Peper Harow, Elstead and Tilford this will leave these communitites with no public transport and no way for the many elderly users to visits shops etc.
By zantebaz at 18:46 on 03/11/11
Report