Lib Dems urge Hampshire County Council to save bus routes

Chandler’s Ford Councillor Tim Groves asked the Executive Member for Universal Services at Hampshire County Council to restore the withdrawn 461 service and reduced 46 service. Both routes provide routes to Winchester for residents, including students to Peter Symonds College. 

The commercial 461 service was included in a series of cuts to regular services to Peter Symonds College by Stagecoach announced to parents in July. The daily 46 service has been deemed ‘unusable’ by residents due to timetabling issues, meaning there is now only one bus per weekday with no return service.

Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh, Liz Jarvis said:

‘Parents from Chandler’s Ford and Valley Park contacted me in absolute shock that their children’s route into college was scrapped on such short notice in July. Since September, they have been making inconvenient and time-consuming alterative arrangements to get their children to college at their personal cost. The knock-on effects of this cancellation have been huge for regular bus users in these areas.

‘I have met with bus providers and had extensive conversations with Hampshire County Council and residents to make the case for these services. I am equally concerned by proposed cuts to services like Dial-a-Ride, Carshare, and Taxishare which provide critical transport links for vulnerable residents. 

‘I urge Hampshire County Council to listen to residents about the profound effect these service cuts will have and work with bus providers to find a permanent solution.’