Local Lib Dem MP, Norman Baker, has called on East Sussex County Council to step up their game and provide better local bus services after the government's assessment of the Local Transport Plan, released yesterday, highlighted a 'worrying' drop in local passenger numbers in the county over the last two years.
Mr Baker, who is leading calls for the county council and owners of the old bus station site to work together proactively to ensure that the town gets a new bus station facility as soon as possible, is also proposing the creation of a frequent rush-hour "hopper bus" which would provide a transport link between the railway station and main centres of employment in the town such as the county council and Sussex Police HQ. Mr Baker has suggested that, to encourage take-up of the service, the "hopper bus" should run in the rush-hour at a maximum of 10 minute intervals and be provided either as a low cost or free service funded by profits from the Lewes parking scheme.
The local MP is also calling for better bus stop timetable information, to possibly include electronic 'real time' service boards, and the restoration of a basic evening service to and from significant local population centres.
Commenting, Norman said:
"This week's government's assessment shows only too clearly that the county council is failing to provide decent local bus services and that this is directly causing a drop in passenger numbers. An unacceptable number of bus services have been cut in the local area over recent years and months, with some services becoming so marginal that they have ended up being withdrawn altogether.
"To make matters worse, at the same time as services have diminished, prices have increased. Over the last 30 years, while the costs of motoring have fallen by 10%, bus fares have increased by a staggering 57%. It is hardly surprising therefore that people have become attached to their cars and that the government's assessment yesterday highlighted the negative impact on the local area caused by road congestion and poor air quality.
"That said, prising people away from their cars is not an impossible task. Where bus services are reliable, easy to use and value for money, like in London and Brighton, passenger numbers are growing. This is why I am calling on the county council to step up their game and encourage more local people to use the buses by taking decisive action to ensure that Lewes gets a decent and operating bus station, a frequent rush hour "hopper bus" service and that passenger information at bus stops is massively improved."
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
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