A CAMPAIGN has been launched to improve bus services in Wickford.

It's being led by Andrea Arilik of Barra Glade, Wickford who has now gathered 200 signatures for a petition against the bus services in Wickford.

Andrea, who works for a recruitment agency in Billericay, has even had to walk the three miles home from Wickford station after a day at work because of the unreliability of the new service.

First bus company took over Wickford services from Shotgate-based Nibs Buses in April, after the contract was put out to tender by Essex County Council.

First has said the service should improve in July, but unhappy residents want things back as they were.

Andrea, 44, said: “There are lots of people who use the bus services in Wickford such as commuters getting to and from the train station and to work.

“There are also elderly people and people in Wickford who do not drive, I do not drive myself and so I rely on these buses.

“The services are now not as regular and the buses don't seem to keep to the timetables and also the buses are stopping at different places all the time.

“This means that people are just left wandering around Wickford waiting for and looking for a bus.

“The buses have been an absolute shambles since First Group took over some of the services here in Wickford.

“I have had a lot of support from Wickford residents who are very unhappy. I am now leaving earlier for work which is to be expected sometimes but not every day and I am getting to work 45 minutes early each day because I have to leave so early to catch a bus on time.”

The mother of two said it affects the time that she can spend with her family.

Eunice Brockman, 60, of Mount Close, Wickford, said things have gone down hill.

She added: “I think that we do deserve better in Wickford.

“If we had better transport links that it could help to reduce congestion on the roads as more people would chose to use the bus.

“This would help the problems on the road especially during peak times.”

A spokesman for First Group said: "We work closely with the transport team to ensure they are meeting the demands of customers.

"Changes were made to the services in April improving links to Chelmsford and Basildon which have been well received by some customers.

"However we have encountered some reliability issues that are being addressed and should be resolved in July when further amendments are made to the timetable".

Steve Nelson, the managing director of Nibs Buses, said: “The routes were put out to tender by Essex County Council and it was decided that the First Group were better value and so now Nibs run a commuter service in the mornings and evenings and First Group run the day time services.

"We are in talks with Essex County Council about the issues with the bus services. It is very flattering that the residents want Nibs back as their main service."

Essex County Council refused to comment.

To find out more or to sign the petition gopetition.com and search Wickford bus and the petition will be the first search result.