Campaign Diary: Day 14 - a blow for local residents

I use the Suffolk Links demand responsive transport system a lot, as it takes me from home to the station most days, and back again in the evening. And, as of 13 June, a new contract for the service comes into effect, run on a District Council basis, so it affects Barking and Somersham ward.

Passengers have been handed a letter, explaining how the new contract will work. And the news isn't good for users of the service, of whom there are a number, mostly elderly, across the ward. The new service will be using smaller vehicles, and one of the side effects of that is that the concessionary bus pass will no longer be accepted. This will mean that the elderly, some of the most vulnerable to becoming isolated, will have to find the cost of the fare, currently £3.20 for a one-way journey from Somersham to Stowmarket.

For regular passengers in the area covering by the old Gipping North service, discounted return fares have been axed, and single fares increased by as much as 25%.

It is a blow, although from a personal perspective, I can afford it. However, whilst Willisham and Somersham, and the southern end of Barking have some regular bus service, courtesy of route 111, villages such as Offton aren't so lucky, and the demand responsive transport service enables elderly villagers to travel to Stowmarket, meet up with their friends on the bus or whilst shopping, and avoid being trapped.

The service was also originally sold as a replacement for regular bus services that have been withdrawn in recent years, being rather better value than running often quite empty regular buses along fixed routes.

The mantra from the Conservatives who run the County Council is "a better service at lower cost". What they clearly meant was that the lower cost was to the County Council, and not the council tax payers of rural Suffolk, for all that is happening is a transfer of the cost from the County Council to local residents. And, as council tax bills are hardly likely to be reduced for the service's users, it's not as though they are being given a choice as to how their money is being spent.

I am not impressed...