Consultation event on bus cuts (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Consultation event on bus cuts

8:40am Saturday 29th September 2012 in News By Adam Richards

RESIDENTS affected by bus service cuts in Basingstoke and Deane could make thier views known at public consultation events.

Yesterday, a “feedback bus” was at the ASDA car park in Brighton Hill from 10am to noon, and later at St Gabriel’s Church, in Tewkesbury Close, Popley, from 1pm to 3pm.

On board were senior managers at Stagecoach, officers from Hampshire County Council , and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council . Bus users were invited to discuss how to improve the service.

Last year, Hampshire County Council cut its annual subsidy to Stagecoach, prompting the operator to axe loss-making routes.

Stagecoach cut the hospital link on route five, and stopped running buses after 9.30pm. Councillor Cathy Osselton, the borough’s Cabinet member for partnerships, said: “As drop-in bus surgeries have been run very successfully by Stagecoach in the past, this was the preferred way to give residents the chance to discuss their personal experiences directly with senior managers from the bus company and the councils so that we can try and come up with practical solutions."