It is a year since I launched a local campaign to maintain the Stagecoach no 37 service between Spalding and Peterborough.
I have joined forces with the National Better Buses Campaign, which is built on local group activity, but linking up areas from Lincolnshire, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Scotland has made the campaign much stronger.
I was a delegate for my Unite the union retired members branch at the national conference in June, attended by 110 people from a wide range of campaign groups, trade unions, organisations representing older people – NPC – people with disabilities, and individuals affected by our crisis -ridden bus services.
Keynote speaker- Louise Haigh- Shadow Transport Minister opened the first session.
The event was sponsored by 27 national, local and regional organisations. Conference agreed to have a week of action in October 2023, with a focus on demands for better and guaranteed funding.
I distributed leaflets at local bus stations and engaged with many passengers during my week of action.
The key factors coming from my time with passengers vary from the lack of information, no help desk, fragmented timetables, confusion, buses not turning up and even drivers getting the pick up times wrong.
Also I spoke with people from Crowland who work in Spalding and Peterborough, who found the timetable difficult to link in with work start times and the return home.
I noted a much better service in Cambridgeshire compared to Lincolnshire, with very good links from Peterborough city centre to the City Hospital.
Stagecoach East managing director Darren Roe has welcomed news that the £2 single fare scheme will be extended until December 2024.
This is something that campaign groups have been asking for along with extra funding to protect services in the long term.
More investment for reliable services, better timetables, better training and conditions for drivers should be at the forefront of outstanding bus services.
Buses are a vital service for many people in rural areas, passengers just want them to turn up.
Rodney Sadd, Better Buses for Crowland and Lincolnshire
