23 Feb 2008 - Bus Services Withdrawals

Bus Services Withdrawal

 The group is firmly behind calls for the re-instatement of this service, or the re-routing of another service to fulfil this role where it would not cause inconvenience to other users. Our recent survey showed that many people already felt that public transport was lacking in the area, even before this step was taken.

 We do not accept that the 549 buses which now go to Huddersfield which can be caught at the Top O' Town or Delf Hill provide a viable alternative. For our many elderly residents at Chapel Croft and Ward Court, and Rastrick Health Centre users in particular, this is too far to walk. Neither do we accept that the 570 service is a viable alternative. Although this service does go in to Brighouse - it goes between Brighouse and Halifax - not Huddersfield.

 Furthermore, the recent changes have seen the 570 re-routed so that it no longer comes along Thornhill Road to Crowtrees Lane, but via Rastrick Common. Although this benefits the people of the Rastrick Common area, it also means that now residents in the Thornhill Road area have no bus service at all - into either Brighouse, Halifax or Huddersfield! 

The fact that other communities benefit from other's losses has been given as a justification for the re-arrangement of Rastrick bus services. We do not see this is acceptable. A 'robbing Peter to pay Paul ' system of change where well-used services are taken from one section of the community to be given another, cannot be considered as improving our public transport system.

     It's also been suggested to able bodied elderly residents that they could use the Access Bus as an alternative. We consider that this would be highly inappropriate use of such a service, when the people concerned are quite capable of catching a regular bus - if only they had one near enough. A petition with over 700 signatures was presented by Councillor Paul Rogan to a Council Meeting on 13th February to help him show the strength of feeling against this service reduction. It is understood that this will result in a review of the changes, and that we will be duly informed what the Council and Metro decide to do next, within a reasonable time frame. 

      Our group stands ready to do whatever else we can to ensure that the public voice is heard and a satisfactory conclusion is reached.