Hawkwell shoppers will no longer be able to get to superstore

Bus Company Arriva confirmed both the No 18 and No 6a bus services will shortly be scrapped as part ochanges designed to improve Southend’s bus service.

The No 18 bus service runs between Leigh and Hawkwell every Friday, taking in the Tesco Extra store in Westcliff.

The No 6a service runs between Belfairs and Leigh train station. Patricia James, 72, of Hazelwood, Hawkwell, said she wrote to Arriva pointing out that the people of Hawkwell, without a car, need a service to getthem to their closest superstore.

Mrs James said: “I do not think the public who have access to their own vehicle appreciate how difficult it is for people that have to rely upon public transport for a food shop..”

A spokesman for Arriva said the company always made it clear the services would be reduced if they did not prove popular.

He said: “We haven’t made much money from these services as not many people have used them, so they will be removed and the resources will be reinvested into the main network to improve overall services.”

Arriva said there were changes coming up in the Southend network to improve the reliability of the bus service because of the town’s traffic problems.

He added: “There are going to be new measures in place to improve reliability such as placing a radio system into the buses and putting road managers out and about the town with iPads tracking the buses.”

Margaret Cox, 76, of Victor Gardens, Hawkwell, said: “We have been told the last bus will be on August 7after hearing rumours for weeks.

“I’m a widow and the bus is so handy as it stops right outside Tesco.

We are isolated here in Hawkwell, so this bus has been a godsend.

“This is going to affect a lot of people.”Hilda Bithell, 75, of Hazel Wood, Hawkwell, is also frustrated on hearing the news.

“I feel very disappointed. I haven’t got a car and don’t know where I’m going to shop now.

“We have had this service for five and a half years and a lot of people are upset about this.”