BUS services in Basingstoke have been cut due to the government’s 10pm curfew, but residents have pointed out that this leaves many workers without transport home.

Last week, Stagecoach announced that it would be revising its Friday and Saturday night services in Basingstoke and Winchester due to the government’s 10pm curfew on hospitality venues, but many residents say this is not good enough.

When the Gazette shared the story on Facebook, one commenter wrote: “What about shift workers?”

Another wrote: “What about people that work in pubs and restaurants, how are we to get home?”

Some raised safety concerns, with one person writing: “So let’s say I finish work at 10pm, would that mean walking home in the dark alone?”

But others were more sympathetic, with one person saying: “It’s use it or lose it - they are obviously not getting enough people using the service.”

Another added: “Why is everyone complaining? It’s two nights a week! Lots of people have to make other arrangements to get to and from work.”

A spokesperson for Stagecoach South said: “This is a temporary but necessary measure whilst the curfew remains in place.

“The demand for the late night journeys will not be as great as local bars and entertainment venues won’t be open post 10pm.

“Journeys affected were extra journeys which ran until midnight and in many cases it has just been one journey removed on Friday and Saturday nights only.

“We have been conscious to keep some journeys past 10pm to ensure that workers and other customers who need to make later journeys can still get home.”

Stagecoach has confirmed the full list of changes as follows:

  • Route 1, Town Centre to Brighton Hill will have its last journey at 2300 from the bus station between Mondays to Saturday.
  • Route 2, Basingstoke to Baughurst will see its last journey leave the rail station at 2300 Mondays to Saturdays.
  • Route 3, Town Centre to South Ham will have its last journey from the rail station at 2255 Monday to Saturdays.
  • Route 5, Town Centre to West Popley will see its last journey depart from the bus station at 2145 Monday to Saturdays.
  • Route 6, Winklebury to East Popley will have its last journey from the bus station at 2310 Monday to Saturdays.
  • Route 7, Town Centre to Chinham will have its last journey depart from the bus station at 2305 Monday to Saturdays.
  • Route 8, Town Centre to Beggarwood will see its last journey from the rail station leave at 2310 Monday to Saturdays.

Councillor Colin Regan, who represents South Ham and has previously spoken out about the importance of public transport, said: “I understand reduced demand due to the curfew, but staff have got to get home too. The last bus to South Ham was 10:15, and it is always a struggle for people to get home even before Covid.

“The trains are still running past 10pm, so there needs to be services from the train station.

“Stagecoach’s communication has been very poor. They just rely on the website, but a lot of people in my area are older and do not use the internet.

“Even for me, 10 O’clock is early!”