howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
Might be best to substitute consultation with done deal going by experience. Complicated stuff trying to work out new bus numbers but in essence it seems that Aycliffe, St Radigunds, River and the villages will take a hit with the Dover/Folkestone/Lydd being reduced in frequency.
https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/South%20East/consultation%20document%20-%20proposed%20Dover%20area%20changes.pdfSue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#2
Howard the consultation period is very short.Only if you have access to a computer can you try to work it out.Parish Council were not notified luckily I spotted the news late yesterday,
I phoned the local depot and they had only just received the news.
it is a cost cutting exercise ?Wonder how many jobs will go.
I shall endeavour to find out more today.The trouble is you rarely can speak to.a human voice.The loss of bus services really does not help the older people.No good having bus passes if they cut the bus services.River will be hard hit .In this current climate when more people are getting dementia bus travel is essential.Shopping gets more difficult as most pensioners cannot carry more than one bag so travel several times to get their needs.
Brian Dixon and howard mcsweeney1 like this
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#3
The villages will be the worst hit with many just left with a school run bus during the week and nothing at weekends. Most had already lost their one evening service when KCC withdrew their subsidy. Expect more cuts to services when cash strapped KCC make more savings.
Rather ironically KCC have finally put back the bus stop sign outside my house this very morning.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#4
I can understand the thinking about the low use of certain early afternoon buses but if say they cut a few out it just means drivers sitting around still being paid, so only fuel is being saved. The 63 route is a continuous round trip repeating itself and fitting in with the timetable. They seem to be proposing longer gaps between the journeys which would just mean the bus standing idle for a while in Priory Street which then begs the question of how they find space when the bus stops are so busy.
No problem with 100/101/102 when it changed from 3 an hour to 4 I thought they were pushing it a bit.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#5
The alterations to the bus services will effect many people.The consultation period is too short .The information given does not say how the routes will operate.for excample will the people in The Ridgeway area of River still get buses?Will all the buses from River into Dover go via St Radigunds .Will River people have to change buses to get to Canterbury.TheDover Depot managers donot know the answers.
Please get writing or emailing .These changes will effect many people.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#6
It is all very vague with stuff like "some afternoon services will be cut" but at the end of the day Stagecoach are a business and their main duty is to their shareholders not bus users.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#7
Too true Howard.Still we have to keep up the fight.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#8
aycliffe busses are bad enough now [3 an hour,] quite often busses are missed out for pathetic reason.if any busses are cut out aycliffe will be vitally cut off from town,for those who don't drive.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#9
We only get one an hour from 9. 30 to 1730 Monday to Saturday Brian, should that service be taken away many up Mount Road and the Westburys will be housebound.
Brian Dixon likes this
Guest 1395- Registered: 5 Nov 2014
- Posts: 463
#10
There seem to be no proposals to cut the main Aycliffe service - no doubt the journeys to be cut are early ones that few use. The biggest losers will be Melbourne Avenue (40% cut) and Whitfield village (also around 40% cut) following withdrawal of 87/88 and re-routing of 89. As I read it, St Radigund's and River will still get 3 buses an hour, but all on different routes (89/89A, 90 and 91). Temple Ewell village will lose all the buses that try to squeeze through at the moment with 15B being withdrawn and 91 re-routed. Howard - 68 is a KCC contracted service so will not be affected. Despite what the local depot may have said, a driver I was talking to a couple of weeks ago mentioned that changes were on the way including 15B going, so it must have been discussed to some extent.
Lew Finnis
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#11
lew,the early busses ie,the 0620 and the 0703 are well used.people use those two sernices to get conetions to get to work.as you may have notised there is a 40 minute gap between the two.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#12
As stated previously the consultation period is too short.I do wonder. From the comments made by Lew Finnis if the drivers had made complaints re the 15b route through Lower Road Temple Ewell .I think it's been in operation for several years now and touch wood no accidents .The main problem was people parking .The buses were timed to meet in Lewisham Road River so no need to meet in Lower Road .Latest information is that the bus terminus in River will be reinstated it was problematic before as people ignored the signs there and buses could not use the terminus.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#13
The 68 is in danger because as stated Stagecoach operate it on behalf of KCC. We have seen KCC withdraw funding for other services usually evening ones and they will be looking to make further cuts now the election is over.
Guest 2133- Registered: 18 Jun 2017
- Posts: 5
#14
Howard, Just for your imformation. Stagecoach drivers are only paid whilst driving, Not while sitting around! The only exception to this is if a driver is on standby to cover sickness or breakdowns.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#15
might help if the busses ran on time as of the timetable and when they feel like it.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#16
This is a sham of a supposed consultation.
Far to short in time scale.
And not enough information,
As a daily bus user like many others it's important we secure as many services as we can.
Howard makes a very good point, that Stagecoch's main concern is to it's shareholders rather than providing a public service.
This is the reality of a deregulated bus service.
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 1395- Registered: 5 Nov 2014
- Posts: 463
#17
Howard the 68 won't be in danger until its contract comes up for renewal. Not sure when that is. I've also worked out that, unless they put bigger buses on instead of the Solos, Melbourne Avenue and Whitfield lose around 60% capacity.
Lew Finnis
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#18
and they are packed most times when the 61 hits pencester road,.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#19
In today's Dover Mercury I was misquoted the Doctors surgery is located in Lydden I'm not Parish Councillor
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#20
Anyone that doesn't buy the Mercury won't have a clue what you are talking about Sue, I am trying to link in a Doctor's Surgery in Lydden with the Stagecoach consultation.