Key bus calling at villages between Diss and Bury St Edmunds saved… for now

Worried village residents have had key bus services saved by the county council following route axing.

Simonds Buses, the company behind several bus routes in Suffolk announced it would axe some of its services, between Diss and Bury St Edmunds, due to economic viability.

This left residents in several villages across the county, including Badwell Ash, Walsham le Willows and Bardwell anxious about accessing key health and education services.

One of these residents is Lisa Kelly, 49, who lives in Badwell Ash and whose 16-year-old daughter is meant to start at West Suffolk College next month.

She said: “I don’t drive and my husband’s at work so I’ve got no means of transport to get my daughter to college in September.

“It was suggested we could car share but I obviously don’t want to put my 16-year-old in just anybody’s car.

“I can’t physically get her to college and if she doesn’t go, I get fined because she’s not going and who’s going to have to pay that fine?”

Another Badwell Ash resident, who did not wish to be named, added: “If I needed to get to the hospital on a day my husband is working, a taxi would be the only alternative.

“We have no other choice, it’s too far to cycle, and it’s not safe with all of the big trucks in our village because of all the houses being built.

“But I’m really concerned about young families that live in the village, or children whose parents do not drive.”

Concerns such as these prompted several councillors to write to the company and the county council pleading for a solution.

Cllr Richard Winch, representing Badwell Ash, said there was strong demand for the early morning and afternoon services to get people to and from school or work, and called for a compromise option to be created.

He added: “Over the years the council has drastically cut subsidies for our vital bus services in spite of the growth in housing in our villages.

“Rural routes like these are not just a business, they are a vital public service and there comes a time when subsidy is needed.

These demands, which also saw intervention from Waveney Valley MP, Adrian Ramsey, were considered by Cllr Chris Chambers, who deals with transport strategy, planning, and waste at the county council.

He said the council would now use the last of its Bus Recovery funding from the Department of Transport to ensure the 337 and 338 bus routes keep running until December 27 while the council looks at alternatives for the future.

He said: “We recognise that some people in rural communities rely on these services so they can get from A to B and we encourage sustainable travel where possible, so we have listened to the feedback and are working with Simonds, the operator to find alternatives.

Cllr Chambers also encouraged residents to place more emphasis on using sustainable transport such as buses to make sure established routes continue to be viable.

He added: “Commercially run bus services can only run when there are people using these services.

“Other than home-to-school travel for entitled students, there is no legal requirement for councils to provide bus services, and we have no powers to prevent operators making such decisions.

“I urge all residents to use the bus service as the county council cannot sustain routes which make a loss.”

Cllr Joanna Spicer, who also pleaded with the county council for services in the villages she represents to continue said the company was within its right to take the commercial approach but added she was grateful a temporary solution was reached.

She said: “The proposals particularly impacted on young people needing to get to schools and college. But I am pleased to say that Suffolk County Council took my plea for urgent help seriously.

“We will use this time as a pilot to prepare a community-led bid for new bus service funding that meets the needs of the rural villages I represent.

“This has been very difficult being holiday time and I hope we can now quickly give assurance to anxious parents and young people.”

Although a temporary alternative has been found, this does not mean bus routes through these affected villages are entirely safe as a lot of work still needs to take place to find a long-lasting solution.

In the meantime, however, residents are left in uncertainty as they feel adequate provisions are not in place.

Ms Kelly added: “I think it should be down to the local authorities to sort this stuff out since we’re being asked to keep our kids in education until they’re 18, there should be provisions to get our children into education.

“It doesn’t make any sense whatsoever, these companies are only in it to make money.

“Why do some villages need so many buses every day when others haven’t even got one, I don’t get it, I think the small villages are really suffering with this.”

Simonds Buses has been approached for comment.