Stagecoach are to introduce new bus timetables that affect Whitchurch – and they are doing so with just a few weeks notice, no consultation and minimal communication. They come into effect on the 30th August.
They have announced reductions in service, changes to times and alterations to routes - all of which will affect local people in Whitchurch, some to the extent that they may even lose their jobs. The hardest hit will be those who rely on the service 86 to and from Winchester which is being drastically cut. As well as being reduced to a two-hourly service, those at the start and end of the day are being completely cut out.
So what went wrong?
Some might say that as a commercial operator they can do as they wish, but they do have to register their routes and timetables with the transport authority, and that is Hampshire County Council. So did HCC then inform or consult with local people before agreeing the changes?
By now you may have guessed that the answer seems to be very much a 'No'.
Don't the users matter?
Local residents, Town Councillors and even the Borough Councillor were all kept in the dark. No one seems to have told the actual bus users anything; was sharing of information restricted solely to the passing of papers across some desks between Stagecoach and the County officers?
Was support considered?The cuts to the service to Winchester will be putting jobs at risk while re-timings and re-routing means journeys being disrupted or no longer possible.
Did the County, who are responsible for supporting services that are socially necessary, consider people's livelihoods? Did they assess whether this service should receive financial support?
Did they?
No hint of bus cuts
Certainly when the County Councillor for Whitchurch made his report to the Town Council in early July there was no hint of the drastic changes to come - zero - zilch - nowt. Was he unaware too? Or were the decisions so much a fait accompli that any consultation was deemed a waste of time? The question must be asked - "Why were we not told?" and also followed with "How can local people be involved in consultations over the services they use?"
It seems the system may be broken. There needs to be communication with users and their elected representatives. We have been let down badly. How can this be redeemed?
This failure must not happen again and a robust process needs to be put in place that enables local input into such important decisions.
But meanwhile how are those who rely on the buses to Winchester to make their journeys?
Can our County Council give an answer?
"Why were we not told?" and also followed with "How can local people be involved in consultations over the services they use?"
ReplyDeleteAs you will have seen from my email sent yesterday to my local contacts, HCC, BDBC and all Whitchurch Town Councillors, I asked a similar question - "Is it the case that Stagecoach can simply make these changes without consultation with authorities like Hampshire County Council, Basingstoke & Deane BC and Whitchurch Town Council?"
Unfortunately, Keith Watts, our BDB Councillor, has confirmed that this is indeed the case.
Have you any suggestions about what to do next so that Whitchurch people can voice an opinion?
Look forward to hearing from you.
Mary Johnston
But meanwhile how are those who rely on the buses to Winchester to make their journeys?
ReplyDeleteCan our County Council give an answer?