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Talking Point /
Talking Point - Sunday Buses? |
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| Talking Point - Sunday Buses? |
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Tuesday 10th November 2009 |
An Andover pensioner is fighting for her right to a Sunday bus service.
Barbara Carpenter from Roman Way is frustrated that she and her husband can't get into the town centre on a Sunday and she's launching a campaign.
She's hoping her petition will get the wheels in motion - nearly 140 people have signed it since Saturday.
Barbara says it prevents her and lots of people around the town from going to events: "For one thing, there's the farmer's markets, we can't go to that, or we can and we'd have to walk back, there's attractions, especially on Bank Holidays that we can't go to.
"I think it's very unfair because there are a lot of older people living up here that would want to go shopping on a Sunday and also there's a lot of people who work on a Sunday who would like to get buses back home, but they can't, they've got to walk."
Pete Robinson is the operations manager for Stagecoach Buses in Andover.
He's open to the idea but says it would have to be part-funded by government or another organisation: "We would be keen to enter dialogue with anyone would could part-fund services. The way that trading is going, a lot is moving over into Sundays and we'd be keen to allow them to do so.
"Unfortunately, in the current climate, we wouldn't be able to take the gamble on whether it would be economic, but if anyone wanted to enter talks, we'd be happy to do so."
We'd like to know what you think about this. Do you think there should be a bus service in Andover on Sundays? Leave your comments below. |
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Barbara Carpenter of Andover says: |
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12:22 on Saturday 2nd April 2011 |
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"Just like to tell you all that i have not given up on the bus situation here in Andover.If anyone has anything to say on this issue please leave your feedback on here." |
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Barbara Carpenter of Andover says: |
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16:30 on Monday 3rd January 2011 |
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"Thank you for bringing this to my attention Luke. I am disappointed in the bus companys refusal not to lay buses on.They tell me they do not have the resourses, but im sure if they were to look into their routes they could make savings. I have known them to go to places where no one gets on them,wasting money all the time." |
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Luke Smith of Andover says: |
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10:58 on Sunday 2nd January 2011 |
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"There's No Service for Star 1 And Star 2 On Sundays As well as number 7 For Newbury the same as 77,87 for Salisbury and Stockbridge, And Number 80,70 For Swindon and Marlborough and 79 for Stockbridge no service for cango Activ8 service run on sundays the same with the rivers 76,86 from Andover,Winchester to Basingstoke X24,X26 Don't Know. Happy New Year " |
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Cllr Len Gates of Alamein ward says: |
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20:02 on Thursday 29th April 2010 |
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"Barbara is quite right. It has been her campaign not a Lib Dem one and Sarah is wrong in her accusations. In fact Barbara only recently joined the Lib Dems and I was happy to welcome her as a member and candidate for the town council elections.
The Sunday bus campaign was supported by many borough councillors and reference to it was included in a motion on buses submitted to Test Valley Borough Council in January. The council subsequently set up a panel to investigate Andover’s bus services. That panel (comprising both Lib Dem and Tory councillors from TVBC and HCC) is still working on the project and the matter was discussed at today’s council meeting.
We have already identified improvements in and funding for some existing services and will continue to consult with community groups, Stagecoach and local businesses on other services, including the provision of Sunday services. If Sarah or anyone else has any constructive comments on bus services I will happily accept them and take them to the next panel meeting.
This cross party, civilised approach is more likely to achieve improvements in bus services than so called non-political demonstrations and denigrating the bus providers and those working with them to raise standards.
" |
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Barbara Carpenter of ANDOVER says: |
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07:18 on Tuesday 27th April 2010 |
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"Thank you Sarah for your reply.
I appreciate your support on the Bus Services, but i must make it clear that i alone have been the campaigner, i have the support from over 1000 people here in Andover and the outlying district.
Also a lot of support on these pages as well.
I chose to become a Liberal Democrat because they were the only party that truly supported me.
Its ok for your party to talk about it as is the Conservative party but thats all it is talk and no action,typical in all elections." |
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Sarah Evans of Andover says: |
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17:34 on Monday 26th April 2010 |
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"Dear Barbara, you may recall I rang you before Christmas, or maybe you called me. I do remember having a long conversation with you and telling you that I totally supported your campaign and I offered to help you. I also said how pleased I was to talk to you because I thought it was great that someone was making a stand about the undermining of our Sunday services by a company more interested in profit than services.
As a socialist I have always supported public transport and need for more of it – to get people out of their cars to protect our environment and to ensure vulnerable people are not stuck in rural areas. There are plenty of non-party-political campaigns nationally that are also seeking to do this, such as: the campaign for better transport, the Campaign for free transport and the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT). I have also attended demonstrations organised by the RMT. As a parliamentary candidate I am backed by the RMT, so it would be highly peculiar if I did not raise our public transport as an issue in the election – it is the RMT which organises bus drivers at the Andover bus garage, so not only is this an issue about people’s jobs, it is also an issue about public transport more generally – right across NW Hampshire and beyond.
Generally campaigns are best fought on non-party-political grounds, in order to get the greatest level of support and achieve the aim. I would have thought that any campaign to get more public transport would have welcomed support from any political party and none, if the people interested in the issue shared the aims of the campaign. To not do that only serves to raise the question about what you are trying to achieve – more Sunday buses or a pat on the back for the Lib Dems.
I wrote to the RMT some time ago stating that I would want to be in their parliamentary group, if elected. Doing all I could to campaign for better public transport, safety on our railways and for our public transport to be brought back into public ownership. It is quite simply not right that South West Trains and Stagecoach seeks to make massive profits at the expense of affordable fares and services, including Sunday services, but not exclusively.
What is needed is a change in legislation to stop bus companies being so profit led. We need to stop giving them government subsidy for the amount of fuel they use, but instead reward them for the number of bums on seats. It is all too easy for bus companies to turn round to local authorities and hold them to ransom – demanding higher subsidies or routes cut. For any local authority it is a juggling act – and that must end. Public transport must be there to serve the public not shareholders.
I wish you lots of luck in your campaign, and once again if you would like my help I would be more than happy to help – in the meantime I will honour my promise to make this a campaign issue if elected in NW Hampshire.
" |
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Sarah Evans of Andover says: |
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17:33 on Monday 26th April 2010 |
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""Sop Sarah Evans wants to do something about Sunday Buses. Perhaps she could explain what she and the local Labour Party have done up to now. Did they back the petition for Sunday Buses?Have they supported local councillors who are currently working with Test Valley and Hampshire Councils to improve services of course not because she and the Labour Party are out of touch with whats happening in our town and have no relevance to the future of Andover or its Public Service. Thank you Sarah for your words of support but we are working already to improve bus services without your help.Barbara Carpenter Lib Dem"
Dear Barbara, you may recall I rang you before Christmas, or maybe you called me. I do remember having a long conversation with you and telling you that I totally supported your campaign and I offered to help you. I also said how pleased I was to talk to you because I thought it was great that someone was making a stand about the undermining of our Sunday services by a company more interested in profit than services.
As a socialist I have always supported public transport and need for more of it – to get people out of their cars to protect our environment and to ensure vulnerable people are not stuck in rural areas. There are plenty of non-party-political campaigns nationally that are also seeking to do this, such as: the campaign for better transport, the Campaign for free transport and the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT). I have also attended demonstrations organised by the RMT. As a parliamentary candidate I am backed by the RMT, so it would be highly peculiar if I did not raise our public transport as an issue in the election – it is the RMT which organises bus drivers at the Andover bus garage, so not only is this an issue about people’s jobs, it is also an issue about public transport more generally – right across NW Hampshire and beyond.
Generally campaigns are best fought on non-party-political grounds, in order to get the greatest level of support and achieve the aim. I would have thought that any campaign to get more public transport would have welcomed support from any political party and none, if the people interested in the issue shared the aims of the campaign. To not do that only serves to raise the question about what you are trying to achieve – more Sunday buses or a pat on the back for the Lib Dems.
I wrote to the RMT some time ago stating that I would want to be in their parliamentary group, if elected. Doing all I could to campaign for better public transport, safety on our railways and for our public transport to be brought back into public ownership. It is quite simply not right that South West Trains and Stagecoach seeks to make massive profits at the expense of affordable fares and services, including Sunday services, but not exclusively.
What is needed is a change in legislation to stop bus companies being so profit led. We need to stop giving them government subsidy for the amount of fuel they use, but instead reward them for the number of bums on seats. It is all too easy for bus companies to turn round to local authorities and hold them to ransom – demanding higher subsidies or routes cut. For any local authority it is a juggling act – and that must end. Public transport must be there to serve the public not shareholders.
I wish you lots of luck in your campaign, and once again if you would like my help I would be more than happy to help – in the meantime I will honour my promise to make this a campaign issue if elected in NW Hampshire.
Regards, Sarah
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Barbara Carpenter of ANDOVER says: |
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10:55 on Thursday 22nd April 2010 |
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"Sop Sarah Evans wants to do something about Sunday Buses. Perhaps she could explain what she and the local Labour Party have done up to now. Did they back the petition for Sunday Buses?Have they supported local councillors who are currently working with Test Valley and Hampshire Councils to improve services of course not because she and the Labour Party are out of touch with whats happening in our town and have no relevance to the future of Andover or its Public Service. Thank you Sarah for your words of support but we are working already to improve bus services without your help.Barbara Carpenter Lib Dem" |
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Anon of Andover says: |
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06:25 on Thursday 11th February 2010 |
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"Manuela, haven't you got anything better to do? Because you're starting to get on people's mammary glands, you remind me of sand, you get everywhere" |
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Manuela of Andover says: |
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21:34 on Monday 25th January 2010 |
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"I went to the meeting tonight and was there to see the petition handed over to the Chair who in turn presented it to the charasmatic Pete Robinson, who is the operations manager for Stagecoach Buses in Andover. I would like to state that all comments Legitimately put to him, received an immediate response, I'm glad that I attended this meeting as lots to do with transport was raised, then finally the presentation of the petition was given and Barbara had a round of applause....I would say that based on tonight, if I ever had a problem with transport, I personally would go directly to Pete as he most certainly is a person that just does what he can to help m." |
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Manuela of Andover Hampshire says: |
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10:31 on Saturday 23rd January 2010 |
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"Barry and Barbara you are both right." |
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Barbara Carpenter of Andover says: |
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15:16 on Monday 11th January 2010 |
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"Barry. When you were driving the buses years ago there wasnt a lot of stores open and not so many people as there is now." |
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BARRY WHITTINGTON of CHARLTON says: |
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20:45 on Sunday 10th January 2010 |
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"Hi guys! As a senior bus driver who has driven over many years in Andover, I can remember driving local buses on Sundays and guess what? nobody seemed to want them.If people want buses on Sundays, then it HAS to be an economic proposition for the company and the drivers...doesn't it?" |
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Manuela of Andover says: |
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11:45 on Saturday 19th December 2009 |
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"What an interesting observation Claire Rose, and one worth mentioning. However I also wonder if we couldn't get round this problem with the solution that I offer up for consideration. Could we not have staggered working hours for the drivers? I suggest this only as we have staggered working hours for over, I estimate 80% of shops and other retail outlets ... Therefore places are open for the purchasing public from early morning to late at night. I believe that buses could be put on, if the powers that be, thought outside the box, and realised the potential hitherto untapped in Andover.
Buses that run on a Sunday bring people into the town. Drivers themselves would probably like the option of a day off in the week anyway …It is one of the relics that is particularly quaint of the days when this was a market town.
Vibrant and bustling Monday to Saturday. Then you walk down the high street early on a Sunday morning and it’s like time has stood still.
" |
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claire rose of andover says: |
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17:54 on Thursday 17th December 2009 |
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"i can understand peoples frustrations. i myself do not have a car and have to walk everywhere. the trouble is - if this was a really profitable and viable thing for the bus company to do then they would already be doing it. no large business would see a huge gap in the market and ignore it, doesn't make sense." |
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Manuela of Andover says: |
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16:52 on Saturday 5th December 2009 |
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"well done on the getting the massive coverage from the advertiser for all of this Babara...
We in Andover are like most places in Britian we have a 24/7 culture. Except on a Sunday when it becomes almost like a ghost town. Look at the bus station end of the town...Shops and almost all other amenities are open so we should be able to access the town from everywhere with buses. Non Car drivers have purchasing power too.
Please can we also consider the ones that would like to go and pay their respects to the cemetery too?
manuela" |
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Rebekah of andover admrals way says: |
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08:15 on Saturday 5th December 2009 |
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"There should be a sunday bus for all the elderly and disabled people that want to go to town on a sunday and also the h bus should not stop @ 3.35 and should not be a bus one a hour and to like crickets it every 10 mins " |
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Jason of Andover says: |
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16:30 on Sunday 29th November 2009 |
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"Keep the campaign going Barbara, we need this bus especially when we finish work at 4 and have to walk home in the dark cold weather." |
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Manuela of Andover says: |
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21:04 on Monday 16th November 2009 |
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"Thank you Barbara for updating me on the progress of your campaign this morning.
Please tell the people that will be interviewing you tomorrow, that a bus to go to the cemetery on a Sunday ... is not an unreasonable request.
Sunday is suppossed to be the day that we set aside for worship.
Whilst that is now a long gone distant memory - like half day closing on Wednesdays, it does seem ludicrous to me, that shops in the town are open, need the business, yet they discriminate against those that need public transport, as at the moment there is none.
Whilst understanding the plight of the drivers not wishing to work on a Sunday, I am certain that someone as experienced as Pete will be able to use all his managerial skills, so that should it be possible to run the buses, then it will be done so that everybody benefits. m." |
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Alan Resident of Andover says: |
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12:22 on Friday 13th November 2009 |
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"Have to agree with Vince and maybe with HINDSIGHT we can change the current lot for a council that actually care about Joe Public." |
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Vince of Andover says: |
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10:47 on Thursday 12th November 2009 |
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"TVBC cant help pay for the sunday service as they have wasted all our money on the Guildhall / Rendevous fiasco but maybe in HINDSIGHT it would have been a good idea. but rather than waste money running empty buses what about a cango service on sunday, where you can ring up and book the bus to come your way" |
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Jenny of Roman Way says: |
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08:48 on Thursday 12th November 2009 |
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"Strawberry fields.............chip and shoulder spring to mind!" |
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Manuela of Andover says: |
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23:17 on Wednesday 11th November 2009 |
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"I would support any campaign to have buses running on a Sunday. While we are on the subject, why not provide one, to go out to the cemetery out at Charlton.
Pete Robinson is a fair person, and I am sure if there were enough demand and crucially if funds were made available, this could be achieved.
Let’s face it even the shops are open till 4pm, could it not be possible to have buses to run, and terminate say 15 minutes after all the shops shut?
" |
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Walker of Whitchurch says: |
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14:41 on Wednesday 11th November 2009 |
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"you dont deserve anything through your letter box if you think of pensioners as lazy, they fought for you just remember that Robin." |
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anon of andover says: |
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13:43 on Wednesday 11th November 2009 |
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"I think Robin you ought to go back to school and learn how to spell mate, " |
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Strawberry fields forever of Andover says: |
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12:41 on Wednesday 11th November 2009 |
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"I must agree with one point 'Robin Toates' made, although i'm not sure what the hell he is on about with the rest of his ridiculous post, that there used to be a Sunday service that Oakley buses ran, what did the residents of this town do? That's right, they didn't use it. It was running for a good year or so before they decided to pull out of Andover, who can blame them? The service run all around the estates, through The Drove, Sheepfair etc etc and it was pretty cheap too. If the people of this town used the service, we wouldn't be complaining about it now, would we?
Also, what would people want to use the service on a Sunday for, to come into town? Why the hell would people want to come into the centre of town for, on a Sunday, aswell as the rest of the week? To put a bet on? To buy a coffee? Maybe purchase a phone? How about wanting a take away meal? See the pattern emerging? There's nothing to come into town for on a Sunday, let alone a week day!
And may i add, i'm not against the farmer's market, i think it is a superb thing to have on a Sunday, it's vibrant and busy, get the hint? People won't use a bus service on a Sunday. Fact." |
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Barbara Carpenter of Andover says: |
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18:44 on Tuesday 10th November 2009 |
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"Iwould like to thank you for your comments.I will keep on trying to get a bus for you on a Sunday, i wont stop till something positive happens.You can sign the Petition forms in Wilkinsons, PDSA Charity Shop and the co op at King Arthurs Way" |
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Anne of Andover says: |
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18:10 on Tuesday 10th November 2009 |
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"Where is this petition? I will gladly sign it. I work every other Sunday near the town, I don't have a car and either have to beg lifts from other people or pay for a taxi both ways which I can't afford. My job is very demanding and exhausting, I don't have the energy to walk. It's almost 3 miles I believe and not very nice to say the least in the rain, on a freezing cold and/or windy day or a sizzling summer's day. There used to be buses on this route years ago, why not now? Even if it was only one every half an hour late morning to early evening, it would be better than nothing. Give us our Sunday buses back - PLEASE!" |
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Route 66 of Andover says: |
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09:38 on Tuesday 10th November 2009 |
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"Correct me if I am wrong, but if you are a Pensioner dont you get free travel on public transport? Stagecoach are in this game to make money.But I do agree that there should be a Sunday sevice I am with you on that one,it is good that the little people take on the big boys.Good luck Barbara" |
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Jenny of Roman Way says: |
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09:29 on Tuesday 10th November 2009 |
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"We've often said there should be a bus service on a Sunday, really when you think about it, Sunday is no different to any other day now, the shops are open in town but if you don't own a car your stuck. Not everyone can walk long distances, it takes around 30 minutes or more to walk into town from Roman Way and some of it up hill, if your shopping in town there's the problem of carrying bags back on another 30 minute walk. During week days the buses run approximately every 15 minutes as the bus route takes in King Arthurs Way, Roman Way and Cricketers Way, but if the bus were to run on a Sunday maybe every hour would be an idea, that way at least we'd be getting the service on a Sunday!!" |
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Dee Robins of Andover - Topaz Drive says: |
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09:13 on Tuesday 10th November 2009 |
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"Given that we have a town centre that needs it's local shoppers to enable it to thrive, and that local people have to work on a Sunday, how can there not be a bus service for access to town? Come on Stagecoach and TVBC give your customers a reliable and regular service, especially the older members of the community who may not be able to run a car or walk home with their purchases and think of those who have worked all day and have to walk home in the wet and dark nights." |
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