Claydon resident Chris Jones launches campaign calling on First Bus to introduce more bus services between Stowmarket and Ipswich
A bus user has launched a campaign calling for more services between two towns as he says residents in his village are stranded during the evening.
Chris Jones has set an online petition asking First Bus to extend the operating hours of its 88 route in the evening and on Sundays from Stowmarket to Ipswich.
The 36-year-old, of Claydon, says the last bus is at 5.50pm from Ipswich, which restricts the lives of residents in his village.
He said he would like to see services run until about 11pm during the week and buses introduced on Sundays.
Already, his change.org petition has attracted 138 signatures since it was launched on Saturday.
Mr Jones, who travels to Ipswich for work, said: “Our appeal isn't for something unprecedented. Years ago, we had extended hours and Sunday services, but with time, they disappeared.
“This trend has persisted for approximately 15 years, constraining our accessibility and dwindling our ways to connect.
“There are plenty people living in Needham Market, Claydon and Great Blakenham that want to be able to travel beyond the current operating hours.
“When I was in my teens/early 20s, I could get a bus back from the town around 11pm, which was great for social life.
“You could spend some time in a restaurant or a pub after work and still rely on public transport to get back home.
“I guess they decided it was not as financially viable to run those services but it’s a public service. It shouldn’t be viewed solely as a profitable enterprise.”
Mr Jones said the current daytime service works well, but he feels people living between Stowmarket and Ipswich are limited with what they can do for leisure, such as going to the pub after work or doing their weekly shopping.
He added this is more difficult for people who do not own a car and depend on public transport.
“I’ve often sat in the bus queue in the village, and after talking with other people, they said I’m not the only one that feels you can’t work past 5.30pm in the town centre and rely on getting a bus home,” he said.
“People even said that if they work past 5pm, they can’t get a bus home so they have to get a taxi.
“People feel limited because they need to pack everything into work hours.
“I think business such as pub and restaurant will benefit from more people being able to travel without having to worry about driving.”
About seven years ago, Mr Jones successfully called on the company to reintroduce timetables at bus stops after it launched QR codes.
After First Bus listened to him, he hopes they will be as equally receptive to his campaign for more services.
James McCluskey, commercial director at First Bus East of England, said: “Unfortunately, there is currently insufficient demand to make evening and Sunday journeys commercially viable for this service.”
