Polstead resident criticises ‘unacceptable’ reduction to bus service between Hadleigh and Sudbury

Reductions to a bus service between two Suffolk towns will leave some rural passengers ‘completely stranded’, according to a regular user, who branded them ‘unacceptable’.

Polstead resident Jennifer Kavanaugh expressed disgust at what she felt was a lack of communication from bus operator Beestons over recent changes to the schedule of the 91 bus route.

The service, which travels between Hadleigh and Sudbury, includes a stop in Calais Street, operating once every two hours.

However, the bus now only pulls in at this location at 8am and 4pm to serve school pupils, due to a reported lack of regular passengers at other times of day.

Jennifer, of White Street Green, claimed this reduction had come without proper warning and, despite efforts to contact Beestons, she had been unable to get further explanation.

She told SuffolkNews the change severely limited her ability to travel into Sudbury, as the next nearest stop was over two miles away in Boxford.

“The bus passes through the village on Ipswich Road, which runs parallel to Calais Street,” said Jennifer. “They could take a two-second detour to check and, if there’s no-one at the stop, they can just drive on.

“This is why I’m so disgusted. I don’t see how they can withdraw this service and leave people at this stop completely stranded – it’s just unbelievable.

“I’m told they have suggested that users should walk to Boxford, but to walk two miles on roads with no pavement is ludicrous.”

SuffolkNews has contacted Beestons for comment.