Petitions concerning reductions in Abellio bus services
Petition 1:
It states “Please find enclosed a Petition signed by Whiteley Villagers and supporters who after much discussion have agreed that we in Whiteley Village are in need of a better bus service than the one we currently have, that being the 564 which with its very limited Timetable and regular mechanical breakdowns, is causing many villagers extreme difficulty in arranging and keeping Doctors and Hospital appointments, some having to cancel appointments on the day given due to the bus breaking down. For those of us who for various reasons do not have cars, the 564s limited timetable severely restricts our daily needs and the ability to be part of life outside the village which entails attending meetings, various events, and social occasions, especially evening and weekend ones, without the added expense of taxis many of us cannot afford, bearing in mind that Whiteley Village is a retirement residence predominately for those of limited financial means. Therefore we are asking that when Surrey County Council finds another company to take on the 555 service that Abellio are withdrawing from, that IT will then reschedule the 555 to start and terminate at Whiteley Village and for the 564 to start and terminate at Hersham Green. Whitely Village has recently rebuilt and improved its own bus stop which stops outside the Village Store where drivers can buy refreshments, some hot, and use a toilet, and there is parking spaces for the changeover of drivers. There are also spaces in the village where the Drivers can park and eat a packed lunch. As I have said in the enclosed Notice for the Petition, the 555 is one of the best routes we have in this area of Surrey, and for those of us in Whiteley Village it will give us, at its bus stops between the Village and Walton, better connections to other destinations in particular to St Peters Hospital where many of our residents go for treatment both as In and Out – Patients and a direct service to Ashford Hospital, Heathrow Airport and the National Express Coach Service. The 555s direct service to Walton Station (which Villagers prefer to use) would be much better for us in Whiteley Village and for people visiting us. It has good access to the platforms, is well sheltered and with the 555s later timetable will bring us back into the village and save us the additional expense of taxis we at present have to use, especially at weekends. Hersham station via the 564 is not a good station for many villagers of visitors die to its long steep flight of stairs, very exposed platforms and the last bus from it to Whiteley Village is at 6.06pm, therefore when having to come back later means a taxi back to the Village; and of course there being no Sunday service, means taxis both ways. There are those of us in Whiteley Village who, as individuals, feel increasingly isolated in our ability to be part of and attend events, meetings, and social occasions, outside of the village especially in the evenings and weekends. Also there are those, who having given up driving, are reconsidering the need of a car they really don’t want or can ill afford. This could eventually lead to more people coming into the village with cars when being told that there is such a limited bus service, and this will inevitably add to the traffic on our already congested roads outside the village and traffic jams and disruptions to all the bus services, especially when Whiteley Village completes its impending extensions of Housing, Care Centre, and Welfare buildings possibly resulting in more employees, some of whom may not have cars and will therefore need a bus such as the 555, with its half hourly service later time table, and weekend service to connect with and bring them to and from the village. Therefore Mr Goodman we ask that you support us in our request to reschedule the 555 bus to start and terminate at Whiteley Village and for the 564 to start and terminate at Hersham Green.
Submitted by Linda Roth
Signatures: 384
Petition 2:
It states “We, the undersigned, protest at the proposed cuts to the 514, 515 and 458 bus services which will mean that Thames Ditton and Weston Green will have no bus services from 1st January 2017. We petition Surrey County Council to take urgent action to ensure these essential bus services continue after 1st January 2017 – as they are vital for the wellbeing of the community, particularly the elderly and those with disabilities, most of whom have no alternative forms of transport.”
Submitted by Peter Hickman
Signatures: 2102
Petition 3:
It states “As of 31st December 2016, Abellio Surrey are cutting back or withdrawing a lot of their services. These include services to and from Heathrow, as well as transport links to schools, colleges and towns around Surrey, as well as St Peters Hospital. As if transport wasn't already difficult for students, workers, and those unable to drive, we are now faced with another challenge. Please help us to keep our bus services, as they are a vital part of everyday life.”
Submitted by Jasmine Ritchie
Signatures: 3254
A response will be tabled at the meeting.
Decision:
That the petition responses, attached as annex 1, be approved.