After deciding to permanently ban buses from their High Street last Tuesday, Southwold Town Council have attempted to mollify concerns that people are not able to access essential services by saying that a minibus will be provided as a replacement (to shuttle presumably between the Kings Head and the Market Place). My sources say that Suffolk County Council will loan them a vehicle from surplus. That will please the town council as up-to-date disabled accessible minibus can cost in excess of £60,000 to purchase.
The town council said its decision to keep the ban was based on a survey of residents, local businesses and visitors that was carried out in August. This statement causes many to choke on their cornflakes as this "consultation" was announced without any notice the Friday before a bank holiday and it only allowed people one week to write to the town clerk. That is hardly thorough and comprehensive research.
According to the BBC, Guy Mitchell, chairman of Southwold & District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: "It looks like good news that the council is supporting business by introducing a minibus and we look forward to getting more detail about how it will operate and what it would cost passengers."
Rod Lock, secretary of East Suffolk Travellers Association said: "We're not happy with the town council's decision.
"I don't think a minibus is satisfactory because passengers will be charged for it and it's not very convenient if you've got shopping and now have to get on two buses."
I would like to add there's minibuses and there's minibuses. The devil is in the details and this could well be another empty promise if the minibus provided, reported to be only a 10-seater, is not as accessible as the inter-urban buses.
I am sure many people want to know and the council should be able to tell them already, if it is really prepared to provide a practicable minibus:
- is the minibus to be used in the shuttle service as disabled accessible as the inter-urban bus and is that by low floor or lift?
- what is the passenger capacity of the proposed shuttle minibus?
- what is the MAM of the minibus (this affects the options on employing volunteer drivers)?
- what evidence does the town council have that the minibus capacity is sufficient?
- what is the proposed timetable of the shuttle bus: does it meet the inter-urban buses?
- what is proposed fare for the shuttle bus: is it expected to wholly meet the operators' outgoings?
- what is the proposed route of the shuttle: will it be a continuous 'hoppa' service for residents of Reydon and Southwold to access essential amenities? It was reported it will only run along the High Street and to the pier.
- will the bus be charged for under section 22, i.e. charge fares and accept concession passes (as the inter-urban buses do)?
- which entity will be responsible for operating the shuttle bus?
- will the operator employ paid drivers or rely on volunteer drivers?
- would or could the bus employ volunteer bus conductors?
It would be rather nice if the town council sought to provide a local 'hoppa' service that links the essential services and amenities of Reydon and Southwold with a route like one above.
This route above is 4.1 miles and links the tourism and amenity areas such as the hospital and the new health centre which shall eventually move from Southwold to Reydon. A 17 seat minibus circulating around this route would greatly reduce the need for parking in the town and bring visitors from the pier to the high street and vice-versa as well as make Southwold and Reydon more liveable and so sustainable for its residents.
If a local 'hoppa' was operated by volunteers, it could be sustainable from fares and car park revenue. There are a good number of kind volunteer drivers active in Southwold and Reydon who are already taking local people shopping, to lunch clubs and to doctor and hospital appointments because there is no public transport. It makes more sense to have volunteers driving a bus that serves users at a 16:1 ratio than a car scheme that is only 1:1.
Before the NIMBYS sharpen their quills, this route is only a suggestion, such a route should be arrived at after proper consultation.
However I won't hold my breath that the leopard will change its spots overnight. If the views expressed by some with influence at meetings on the current Southwold Town Plan are anything to go by; conjoining Southwold and Reydon in anything is anathema.
This route above is 4.1 miles and links the tourism and amenity areas such as the hospital and the new health centre which shall eventually move from Southwold to Reydon. A 17 seat minibus circulating around this route would greatly reduce the need for parking in the town and bring visitors from the pier to the high street and vice-versa as well as make Southwold and Reydon more liveable and so sustainable for its residents.
If a local 'hoppa' was operated by volunteers, it could be sustainable from fares and car park revenue. There are a good number of kind volunteer drivers active in Southwold and Reydon who are already taking local people shopping, to lunch clubs and to doctor and hospital appointments because there is no public transport. It makes more sense to have volunteers driving a bus that serves users at a 16:1 ratio than a car scheme that is only 1:1.
Before the NIMBYS sharpen their quills, this route is only a suggestion, such a route should be arrived at after proper consultation.
However I won't hold my breath that the leopard will change its spots overnight. If the views expressed by some with influence at meetings on the current Southwold Town Plan are anything to go by; conjoining Southwold and Reydon in anything is anathema.
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