Have your say on public transport for Hiltingbury
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
In partnership with Eastleigh Borough Council, and local bus operators, Hampshire County Council wants to find out what people living in Hiltingbury think the priorities should be for public transport in the area.
Most bus services in Hampshire are provided commercially and are not under the control of the County Council which means that when and where the services run are matters for the bus operator. When the C1 and C2 commercial bus service was withdrawn by Velvet in November 2012, the County and Borough Council stepped in temporarily to fund a replacement service between Hiltingbury and Fryern Arcade, numbered C3/C4, to ensure residents could continue to get to the shops, health services and leisure facilities. The C3/C4 is currently being operated by Xelabus and alternate journeys connect with the operator's X7 service at Fryern Arcade, thereby offering through links to and from Eastleigh.
In order to ensure the community has a transport service that meets its needs, the County Council has opened a consultation and is inviting all residents to respond.
Councillor Mel Kendal, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Hampshire County Council, said: "We need to understand what level of service is needed in the community and consider what can reasonably be provided within the funding that is available. In recent years, the available funding has had to reduce in line with cuts made by the Government to the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant it awards to local authorities.
"We want to get a picture of what people living in the area consider to be the most useful features of their bus services and what changes would cause least inconvenience. The more people who respond, the better a picture we will get. We would also like them to consider the needs of others in their community, for example teenagers or the elderly, as well as their own needs, to indicate whether work or leisure journeys should be prioritised, and if bus services should run at certain, key times of the day."
People can make their views known by completing an online questionnaire or by email to environment.bus.review@hants.gov.uk. Anyone that requires a copy of the questionnaire to be sent to them by post should call 01962 846921, or write to Hiltingbury Bus Service Consultation, Passenger Transport Group, Economy, Transport and Environment, Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 8UD. The closing date for responses is 15 February 2013.
Calendar
twitter
facebook