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SWT bus link. - Dawn Hoskins (14th Apr 2009 - 12:17:38) As I have been out delivering election flyers, the first question I have been asked in Passfield and Conford is: 'What is happening to the bus?' I have contacted councillors in Bordon and WH and also EHDC and this is the most up to date info I can provide. Dawn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Council will do all it can to address the impact of the SWT announcement. In fact we are leaving no stone unturned in our efforts. For example: (i) We are in the process of arranging a high level meeting with SWT (ii) We are writing to the Secretary of State for Transport and asking him to intervene on our behalf. (iii) Lastly, and by no means least, we are looking into the feasibility of providing a Council alternative should all efforts with SWT fail. As you are aware ......(well - actually I wasn't!).....the Council is planning to introduce its own Rural Community Transport Network across the entire district starting in Spring 2010. If efforts with SWT fail, as the well might, we are looking to see if we can introduce some sort of substitute service prior to our plans commencing next year. This is as much as I can say at present but I will keep you updated as plans progress. Best regards Ken Ken Carter Lead Councillor for Transport East Hants District Council ken.carter@easthants.gov.uk 01420 22576

Re: SWT bus link. - Art Woodhouse (14th Apr 2009 - 13:00:29) Hiya, Yes as someone who lives in Passfield this is a massive problem. Without the Rail-Link bus I will be forced to drive and park in Liphook. Walking isn't an option - its too far and we don't even have a pavement for most of it. Riding a bike is scary and dangerous given the blind bends and level of traffic using the roads. The only bus, the number 13, runs so few times a day it is next to useless. The first one to Liphook is just before 8am and the last one back at 4pm so what use it that! Clearly it all comes down to money and SWT want to save it. A Passfield resident cannot win this but as it is a disaster for Bordon I am offering my full support to their campaign. The suggested alternatives to a bus going to Farnham, as stated by SWT, speaks volumes as to their thinking as it ignores the real need a commuters as is just a fob. Surely someone should tell SWT that the real reason the service is losing money is because the bus fare hasn't gone up once. It is not the lack of use as anyone who regularily catches it will tell you. Granted weekends we get empty buses but during week day rush hours and "night outs to Guildford times" the bus is very busy.

Re: SWT bus link. - Dawn Hoskins (14th Apr 2009 - 13:07:45) As Finchie said in a previous thread, if the bloody bus stopped on the way to pick people up, or ran two buses (one in each direction) so that you could get from Passfield to Liphook in less than an hour – more people would use the service!! www.liphook.co.uk/.. ....."Perhaps SWT never figured out that they really should cover their costs of the bus - even make a profit. I bet a bean counter has looked at the profit of the bus service and wondered why it was not making any money !!! Perhaps a bus company could run the same route ! Even pick people up along the way. Now there's an idea."..... I couldn't agree with you more Finchie.

Re: SWT bus link. - Dawn Hoskins (14th Apr 2009 - 13:45:50) Dear Dawn I have been asked to let you know what this Council is doing regarding the withdrawal of SW Trains rail link between Bordon and Liphook. The Council has recently agreed the following resolution: “To arrange a meeting with South West Trains, at a mutually convenient time, with other stakeholders and members of the public, to discuss how the Bordon Liphook rail link bus service could be saved.” This meeting will take place on Wednesday 29 April 2009 at 6pm at the Bordon Oakhanger Sports Club. You are more than welcome to attend the meeting. Regards, Chris Chris Youngs Committee Administrator Whitehill Town Council Council Offices, Forest Community Centre, Pinehill Road, Bordon GU35 0BS Tel: 01420 473123

Re: SWT bus link. - Art Woodhouse (15th Apr 2009 - 09:55:31) Delighted to see we have a meeting set up but the time, 6pm, is very early and I am concerned the meeting will be poorly attended as a result. Lets face it how can commuters from London get back home in time to attend? I bet the time was suggested by SWT not the committee. I remember the last big meeting with the SWT exec in Liphook at the Millenium Centre organised by Finchie to discuss their timetable changes. it was set for a more convenient time of 7.30pm and we all came off the train together and filled the room, including, I might add, our MP James Arbuthnot. Anyway good luck and give them hell.

Re: SWT bus link. - Stephen (15th Apr 2009 - 14:50:13) This question might have already been raised but does anyone know whether the bus link is a legal committment under the SWT franchise agreement that Stagecoach has with Dept for Transport. If it is, then it could only be stopped by agreement of DfT. If it isn't (and is then at Stagecoach's discretion to stop) then it must have made a profit at some recent time (or it would have been cancelled before) so it must just be a question of what timetable and/or fare changes need to be made to make it profitable again. From the feedback on this site, sounds like the off-peak services could be reduced. The other confusing thing is the notion that Stagecoach will cancel the service, then the council might subsidise a bus company to start it again. That someone would have to be Stagecoach. What's that all about?

Re: SWT bus link. - Colin Haward (15th Apr 2009 - 16:46:10) Good to see you have a robust debate going on this and I certainly echo many of the valid points made not least the fact that without the bus people will use their cars to Liphook station. The parking, drop off and pick up chaos at rush hour times will be horrendous. As we have had barely a year to enjoy the new footpath in Passfield to the bus stop the thought of a cycle route to Liphook is probably still sometime away. I have made the point in an email to SWT that if those of us who currently use the bus to Liphook station (not just for London) for local trips ie Guildford or south to Portsmouth, or Chichester may well just use the car full stop! I also questioned why if the last stop is at Whitehill the bus continues on and up the A3 back to Liphook. Why not back to Passfield via Hollywater lane thus giving a shorter and quicker (picking up more passagers & saving costs) route back to Liphook. While I wish the meeting with SWT on 29 April all the best, its time and location is hardly designed to attract many of us who would like to attend. I therefore hope Dawn you or someone can represent the very good points made here.

Re: SWT bus link. - Sudha (17th Apr 2009 - 10:38:45) Oh No! This date clashes with the date we have set for the Liphook Initiative/Bringing people back to Liphook FIRST meeting at the Black Fox Inn at 7pm. Is there anyone who has a fervent interest in the SWT topic and can attend the SWT meeting and feedback to the LI/BPBTL? I have a 45 minute drive to get in for 7pm...so will be fighting the traffic to get to that.

Re: SWT bus link. - Dawn Hoskins (17th Apr 2009 - 13:24:39) I will go to the 6pm meeting about the SWT bus (if I can find the blinking venue which I have never heard of!!) I will take notes etc and report back. If it is over quickly I can come to the Black Fox as well If you have any particular questions you would like me to submit on your behalf you can either e-mail them to me or post them here. (They will probably want full names with the questions for their minutes.) [editor - theboscclub.org/..]

Re: SWT bus link. - Lawrence tristram (23rd Apr 2009 - 22:54:35) As someone from the Bordon end and a daily commuter Art told me about this blog. The Bordon group SOR (Save Our Raillink) will be holding a demo at the station on Monday 27 April. We intend meeting at about 6pm and the press will be invited for 6.30. We have confirmed this with the Police and they are OK with it. We will have placards (A4 and A3 size, if you want to bring your own we can supply the poster to go on it. If you do come please let us know at saveourraillink@live.com We will also have petitions to sign, up to last Tuesday we had got over 1000 signatures and the forms are still out. I will be going up to No 10 on 12 May to hand over the petition. Talking of No 10 there is also an online petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/saveourraillink/ which you could sign. For those of you in the know there are 3 groups on Facebook and a yahoo group

Re: SWT bus link. - Art Woodhouse (24th Apr 2009 - 06:10:33) Hiya, Just to let everyone know. I understand that there will be a protest demo on Monday night at Liphook Station starting @ 6pm. Riot police in attendance I expect. G20 all over again!

Re: SWT bus link. - Lawrence Tristram (27th Apr 2009 - 22:57:58) The Demo happened, 50 people turned up and three papers were there, unfortunately no TV. Well done everyone. Hope to see you at BOSC on Wednesday 29th

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