So many negative things are said and written about Spalding these days, that I would like to highlight something positive, namely the bus services.
When Springfields was first built, the hope was that a shuttle bus could take shoppers to and from Spalding town centre; it was to be run by Elseys – who remembers them? – and it never materialised.
Now, however, Springfields has what amounts to a mini-bus station, where we can catch buses to King’s Lynn, Stamford, Sutton St James, various parts of Spalding, either directly to the bus station or, on the IT2, along Queen’s Road, Maple Grove, Halmer Gate. Balmoral Avenue, Little London bridge and back to the bus station via the council offices, Sheep Market, and the railway station.
Recently the no.37 to Peterborough has been extended to serve Springfields before it gets to Spalding bus station.
That is a remarkable range of bus services for a place the size of Spalding.
Add to that the buses to and from Boston, which leave from the bus station and call at the hospital, as does the IT2.
The timetable posted in the shelter in front of the hospital used to indicate, rather unhelpfully, only what time the buses left Spalding and Boston bus stations, but now they indicate the times of all departures from the hospital, of which there are many; not only that, but there is a copy of the departure timetable at the hospital reception desk so that passengers can wait comfortably indoors knowing how soon they can get away.
People who are alert will have noticed that there are some parts of the IT1 and IT2 where there is some distance between stops.
The Black Cat company, which runs these bus services, keeps unnecessarily quiet about this, but in these places the buses run on a ‘hail and ride’ basis.
Yes, they really will stop at any place where it is safe to do so, to pick up and set down passengers.
I use the buses every week, and I enjoy not having to look for a parking space in town; in the old days, we were in the habit of going out and waiting for buses, and that may be less convenient than getting into the car on a whim.
However, it isn’t a great hardship, and we can feel virtuous about not adding to air pollution in our petrol and diesel cars.
And those who haven’t taken a bus for years will be pleasantly surprised to find that, unlike when I was a child, there are no difficult steps to negotiate when boarding the buses nowadays; in any case, the drivers will always help if necessary – and they will always wait until you have sat down or at least reached a place of safety before moving off – no wonder everyone thanks the driver when getting off.
I hope these words will encourage more people to try the buses out, even if only for a ride, to see where they go.
The much-maligned county council does great work in providing the IT1 and IT2 buses, and if there is any change of timetable they will send somebody round to update the timetables on all affected stops.
And there is good co-operation between the county council officers and those at SHDC.
Improvements to our bus station are also in hand – watch that space!
If people feel that any places are not well enough served, they should contact the councils (politely, please! They are doing their best with limited resources.)
I shall be delighted if I am not the only passenger on our buses!
If we don’t use them, we may lose them!
David Jones
Ladywood Road
Spalding
