Since launching an on-line petition to save the Spalding to Peterborough Stagecoach No 37 Bus service in its entirety, I received overwhelming support from the local community, especially in Crowland, but feel the service has now gone from bad to worse.
Let’s be completely open and honest about this as I feel some people have helped me and others in the right position have ignored me.
Firstly I will thank our local MP Sir John Hayes for his support and help with his correspondence between the Authority, Lincolnshire County Council and with the provider, Stagecoach, who chose to ignore me. And Peterborough MP, Paul Bristow did not reply to my concern. Shocking really.
After seeking help from the office of the LCC I learnt that extra funding had been provided to ensure the Sunday service remains in place. But a later statement from Stagecoach referred to an error on their website and they had not intended to withdraw the Sunday service. So what is really happening here and where did the support go from LCC?
Secondly, the service fell into decline this week as some passengers were left stranded, either by the bus being 15 minutes late or nearly a full 30 minutes and some confusion about diversions? People were left standing in the cold and wet after dark, this is not good enough.
So as my original concern was about the total lack of open communication with the public and the authorities I feel questions still go unanswered.
Now, the provider appreciates that any change can have an impact on particular groups, individuals and local communities. However, it is impossible to design a bus network that meets the specific personal needs of every individual. This we understand, that is why we had a good time-table that ran for decades and suited most members of the public.
Finally, the providers now want an open and honest conversation around what is the most appropriate way to ensure that communities in more rural areas remain connected and they remain committed to playing their part in those discussions.
They have publicly called for a rural connectivity summit to identify new transport solutions across Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire to help protect the future of local communities.
The summit would bring together elected councillors and transport officials at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Bedford Borough Council, local bus operators, transport users and business groups.
They finish by asking me if I have any further questions. So two open questions remain to all concerned: When will this summit take place and why leave out Lincolnshire?
Rodney Sadd
Crowland
