Hastings and Rye MP wants feedback from public on buses
MP Helena Dollimore has launched a campaign to get a better bus service in the Hastings and Rye area and wants to hear about people’s experiences using buses.
She said: “Many of us rely on public transport and too often buses arrive late or just don't appear. It is important that we have a bus service that works for local people. I will continue to press Stagecoach and East Sussex County Council for a better and more reliable service.” You can share your experiences by giving feedback at a survey. Visit. www.helenadollimore.com/bussurvey.
Suggestions in response to the MP’s appeal include making Queens Road in Hastings a ‘clearway’ with no parking allowed and deliveries before 7am. Buses are often delayed in Queens Road due to cars and lorries parked along it.
Local resident Graham Belchamber said: “Our bus services are woeful in Hastings. I fully support this campaign and to have free travel reduced to 60 by East Sussex County Council, as it is in many other parts of the UK.”
Other bus users called for later services from the Conquest Hospital, particularly on Sundays. There were also calls for more buses on the West Hill route.
Some people complained about inaccurate digital signage at bus stops, which often says a bus is due or coming and then disappears.
Many praised local bus drivers, saying they were friendly and happy to help.
A spokesperson for Stagecoach, which runs buses in the Hastings and Rother area, said: “Congestion is one of the biggest challenges facing bus operators today. For every hour a bus is on the road, it now takes around ten minutes longer to cover the same distance than it did ten years ago.
"The best way to improve bus services is through physical bus priority measures such as bus lanes. We’re really pleased to see Hastings MP Helena Dollimore shining a light on local bus services, and we look forward to working with her and local partners to turn that focus into real action that helps improve journey times and reliability.
“We’re also working closely with East Sussex County Council and Hastings Borough Council to explore how the planned changes in the town centre, including Havelock Road, could help benefit the bus network.
“We recognise how important reliable bus services are for our customers and communities, and we’re continually working to improve punctuality and reliability across our network. We’re also excited to be introducing more newer buses to the Hastings network in the spring.”