Date received: 21 May 2019
Signatories received: 86
Name of petitioner: Ms A Andrews
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Petition response:
Thank you for your letter dated 21 May 2019 regarding the changes to the bus services in the villages of Tixall and Ingestre, and the petition which accompanied it. Whilst we note 86 people have signed the petition, many of the signatories are resident outside Tixall in locations where a bus service has been maintained.
You will have noted in previous detailed correspondence with officers the reasons behind the changes to the local bus services in Tixall and Ingestre (Chadwick, 28 March 2019; Davidson, 15 April 2019).
The new housing estate called St Mary’s Gate has been provided with a bus service using monies as part of the planning agreement with the developers. The developer funding does not pay for the whole 841 service, but use of the funding does require us to deliver the 30-minute frequency to the new estate. The scheduling of the “short” journeys do not have enough time to allow any extension to be considered nor do the conditions allow us to put gaps in the service to St Mary’s Gate to accommodate an extension to Tixall. Services to new developments generally are not commercially viable to start with, and the funding is used to sustain them for a period to allow patronage to grow. It is also expected that the service will attract passengers travelling to Beacon Business Park, the University and the Technology Park which further contributes to the service’s overall viability.
D&G Buses operate the 841 service and Arriva Midlands is not party to it.
The Village Link service (route 282) is a commercial service to be operated by Lunar Cars with an 8-seat vehicle. The service is due to start on 10 July 2019 and will operate in the villages of Colton, Colwich, Little Haywood, Great Haywood, Tixall, Hixon and Stowe-by-Chartley. This service will transport passengers to sites where the main bus services operate allowing passengers onward journeys to Stafford or Rugeley. It will also help passengers access the doctor’s surgery in Great Haywood. A copy of the timetable is attached. Lunar Cars will be delivering flyers showing the timetable, and will be dropping off posters at local businesses, shops and notice boards. This service will be commercially operated without any support from the county council and I would urge local residents to support the venture.
Should you require further information regarding your petition please contact Bernie Chadwick on 01785 854070.