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Ian Shires
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Why we need a Fair Deal for Housing and Communities
Government childcare announcement: More Conservative chaos hurting families
The case for a radical, liberal left
National Express’s review of local bus services – The discontent rumbles on….
by Ian Shires on 2 April, 2016
There was a flurry of activity following the piece the other day about the proposed changes to bus routes serving our area by National Express West Midlands (NXWM). Lib Dem Cllr Ian Shires had meetings with officers at Walsall Council and emails came in from CENTRO together with more feedback from bus users in the area.
We do wonder just how much of a consultation this has been by NXWM? Judging by its timing, coming as it does over the Easter holiday and the fact that it lasted just a couple of weeks you do wonder if the whole thing is cut and dried as far as the bus operator is concerned and that they are just going through the motions. “If this was a local authority consultation there would be uproar” commented Cllr Shires.
Up till now the comments have been concentrated around the re routing of the 41 and 69 services. over the last 24 hours we have received a number of comments from passengers on the 28 route which NXWM are proposing to axe. Why when it would appear that this service is reasonably popular and provides vital links to New Cross Hospital and shops and doctors in Wednesfield?
“People are questioning the claim by NXWM that they were responding to user comments” said Cllr Shires. “If NXWM don’t wish to run services like the 28 and are looking to miss out links to local estates then perhaps CENTRO should be looking to other bus operators such as ARRIVA and Diamond Bus to fill the gap? Is it a case that National Express has got to big for its own good? Is it a case of the tail wagging the dog?”
I have been trying for several weeks to find out what was happening with the buses and finally on Friday I was given information from Wolverhampton Bus Station.
Ref. the `proposed` changes to the 69 and 41 bus services.
I live in Dorchester Road and am concerned that there will be no bus from here to The Square or Willenhall. This is my understanding of the proposals.
At times I have reduced mobility and would be unable to walk there or back, especially trying to carry shopping.
My GP surgery is in Willenhall.
I also use the bus to get to the Victory for the OAP club.
I also use the 41 Sunday service( albeit Arriva) which I find most useful to get me to Morrisons and Willenhall.
I know there are other people like myself who have to depend on these buses.
It`s bad enough that they do not run on time or even miss altogether on occasion!
I would like you ot add my concerns to other users comments and sincerely hope that these changes do not take place.
Thank you,
Best Regards,
Glen Ellitts
Hi Glen
Thanks for the feedback. Will add your concerns, all very good reasons why the private operator should rethink their proposals though of course they do have the last say. Will do all I can to put them under pressure.
Kind regards
Ian
By me most people drive to the local Sainsburys, the reality is whats the alternative? There are no buses by me there or even in neighbouring roads and on a practical level especially for the disabled and elderly for shopping it doesnt work. The National Express routes are based on pure profit and many who use the profitable routes walk there from neighbouring areas even though National Express presume they all live on route they are utterly wrong. If they asked people they’d get a more broad opinion on travel. National Express think very little on a practical bus routes and on a linked up network.
Agree entirely with what you say Michael and as you point out it does seem that NXWM is interested in its profit not the service it provides. What makes matters worse is the dual standards in the legislation around transport which sees a far superior set of rules for Transport for London (TFL) than the rest of us. Even that which is proposed through the Combined Authority is much watered down compared with TFL.
Hi Ian, we have the same issues in Sandwell as you do. A lot of the more higher ground areas, where a number of poor, elderly and disabled live have poorer transport and links even to local shopping centres. NX (and by the attitude of many working for bus companies) dont cate about the people there. It is very frustrating. I know loads of very large difficult to navigate and long walking roads where Network WM have add on services, not always successfully as NX doesnt cover a particular road (for no real reason probably bothered it upsets their profits – even though I see many buses a quarter full) meanwhile roads who need links have an hourly add on services which must cost more money in the long run as they are running effectively two buses not one as they need to connect services via certain roads so they are provided with a destination they have to have even though some destinations are duplicated and go down the same roads. Its all very inefficient and too many buses running in some areas not doing what they should do. Network WM often has no choice but to add services hourly on. Hopefully this will improve and routes combined better.
Have to say if you live outside Birmingham you get ignored. Their attitude is put ip and shut with your bus surveys. Us in Sandwell had to email suggestions for hus changes. Birmingham gets full surveys online, the residential areas get worse services. They simply dont care as most of the people running it live in Birmingham. It needs a more balanced vision. The fare changes in Sandwell are covering only half of Sandwell while where I live people pay more. We local decisions made. We could have more bus shelters (many arent near residential houses) but all the elderly have to stand, everything we get feels like a pass ons. Its usually the poor areas that get the worse of everything. I do know vehicles in poor parts of Brum are worse though. It does feel like there is a variation in quality. But generally poor areas with the most vulnerable seems more left behind and they are most likely to use buses.