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Petition push for Southend buses

MORE bus services are needed to serve parts of Southend, a Labour councillor has said.

Mike Royston, who represents St Luke’s ward, called on the council to subsidise bus companies to provide better services for his ward.

He said: “I am campaigning for an improved Sunday service and an extension to the times of the weekday evening buses for local residents. Cluny Square and a large part of St Luke’s ward have no Sunday bus provision to speak of, and weekday buses stop running at about 6pm.”

He said the situation was very restrictive and improving bus services would greatly improve the quality of life for residents.

“I’m urging Southend Council to subsidise routes, where necessary, and work alongside bus operators to bring about the improvements which are needed.

“I aim to collect as many signatures as possible to prove there is a real demand for this improvement to the service.”

Residents who wish to sign the petition can call 01702 347472, or sign an online form at www.rselabour.com St Luke’s ward Conservative councillor Peter Ashley added: “Obviously, the bus companies will only run services where there is clearly a demand for them.

“In a few weeks time, we are having a meeting between the council’s bus group and the companies and this is an issue which I shall raise then.”

Comments(9)

Ray Von says...
6:16pm Tue 8 Dec 09

Could always run a Sunday service that runs the 13 route and then does the end loop of the 24 round Newington Avenue...oh sorry thats a sensible idea, the companies would never do that.

Don South says...
9:06pm Tue 8 Dec 09

A Labour Councillor never happier than trying to spend other peoples cash!
.
If your Labour Government gave Southend Council the correct money for the popultion instead of pretending 10,000 people didnt exist then perhaps there would be some spare cash sloshing around for more bus services.

SARFENDMAN says...
6:38am Wed 9 Dec 09

Don South wrote:
A Labour Councillor never happier than trying to spend other peoples cash! . If your Labour Government gave Southend Council the correct money for the popultion instead of pretending 10,000 people didnt exist then perhaps there would be some spare cash sloshing around for more bus services.
But it takes a Tory Adminstration to squander it.

siddymint says...
7:03am Wed 9 Dec 09

My councillor for Belfairs has simply got on with the task of bus routes with no fuss getting up petitions etc.
we have not only Southend but the countries best bus routes run by sevarl compaines. This is constantly improving. Perhaps coucincilor Royston should talk with them.
In cllr Roystons defence he does have the problem of a non existant bus working party at Southend and the problems of the Waite

reptile says...
10:07am Wed 9 Dec 09

And when they have thought about this perhaps they could think of getting some buses that are less then fifteen years old.

IanGilbert says...
10:15am Wed 9 Dec 09

Don South wrote:
A Labour Councillor never happier than trying to spend other peoples cash!
.
If your Labour Government gave Southend Council the correct money for the popultion instead of pretending 10,000 people didnt exist then perhaps there would be some spare cash sloshing around for more bus services.
Under this government, Southend council has always had budget increases of the rate of inflation or above.

Under the Conservatives, Southend faced real-terms cuts in spending. Southend did lose out slightly from the census, but over all has still not done badly.

Conservative councillors find it quite easy to find money to commit to their pet projects - it's just a matter of having different priorities.

Chairman Meow says...
11:39am Wed 9 Dec 09

The Tories' deregulation for buses was one of their many contemptuous policies of the 80s.

Evening services are abysmal, severely restricting mobility for the less well off and to those who rely on public transport. The Sunday evening 'service' is, even with the subsidised buses, especially appalling.

Despite the usual resistance to subsidise such basic services by Tory councillors, hopefully the public will make their voices heard.

IanGilbert says...
11:44am Wed 9 Dec 09

You can sign up to Mike's bus petition online at:

http://www.RSELabour
.com/mikes-bus-petit
ion

Ray Von says...
3:49pm Wed 9 Dec 09

reptile wrote:
And when they have thought about this perhaps they could think of getting some buses that are less then fifteen years old.
Actually, most are.

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