Residents of Thames Ditton & Weston Green, led by Residents’ Association councillors Tricia Bland and Tannia Shipley, and county councillor Peter Hickman handed over a petition signed by more than 2000 people in an attempt to save local buses 458, 514, and 515. These buses are key for Elmbridge residents who wish to travel to Kingston.
In an interview with gerSurrey.co.uk, Cllr Band said:
“The impact of withdrawing these services would be devastating to the whole community. Many of our elderly residents and those with disabilities have no alternative forms of transport and rely on our local buses to maintain their independence. There are also those who rely on buses to take them to work, schools and colleges, doctors’ surgeries and hospitals.”
Thames Ditton & Weston Green Residents
‘Surrey County Council have issued a statement saying they are looking at engaging alternative bus companies to provide replacement services, but there is no guarantee that equivalent services can be found,’ said Cllr Tricia Bland.
These service cuts are part of Surrey County Council’s bid to save £2 million on public transportation and maintain a balanced budget, which Residents Associations’ and Independent Councillors of Surrey County Council have long protested.
Residents’ Association Chairman Rhodri Richards added: ‘Any plan to cut the bus services would contradict SCC’s pledge to foster a more environmentally friendly County. More and more residential and business planning applications without off-street parking are being given the green light with the reasoning that we should be encouraging people to forego their cars and use public transport. This means SCC should be investing in and improving bus services, not cutting them.’
Decision about the petition is to be made on the 12th of December by the conservative cabinet member, Mike Goodman.
To read more about this, click here or click here.
For further information contact Tricia W. Bland: tdwgra@the-blands.co.uk
If you would like to hear BBC Radio Surrey’s interview with Cllr Tricia Bland and resident, John Cooney, go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04dpxk4 for the iPlayer link, start playing ‘Breakfast on BBC Surrey, 8 November’ and scroll to 1hr 39mins into the programme.
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