Stagecoach rules out reversing Chichester bus route changes after parish council plea
Stagecoach has ruled out reinstating the previous stopping arrangements for its bus services near Chichester Cathedral, despite concerns from East Wittering and Bracklesham Parish council about the impact on elderly passengers and people with limited mobility.
East Wittering and Bracklesham Parish Council has urged Stagecoach to restore the previous stopping arrangements for the services, which began terminating at Chichester Bus Station instead of continuing into the city centre on April 6, 2025.
In a letter dated October 12, the council said it had received numerous complaints from residents affected by the change, particularly older passengers and those with mobility difficulties.
It warned that the additional walking distance was creating difficulties for people accessing shops, medical appointments and other essential services in Chichester city centre.
The council requested that Stagecoach reinstate the previous arrangements, either permanently or initially on a trial basis.
However, a Stagecoach spokesperson said the operator currently had no plans to restore the former stopping arrangements.
The spokesperson said: “The routes had experienced significant punctuality challenges due to increasing traffic congestion and other delays in and around Chichester.
“Despite substantial additional investment to improve reliability, the increased operating costs were not financially sustainable.”
Stagecoach said terminating the services at Chichester Bus Station was a difficult decision intended to protect the long-term viability and reliability of the routes.
The spokesperson added: “While we recognise the inconvenience this has caused some passengers, we currently have no plans to reinstate the former stopping arrangements.”
The operator said it ‘remained committed’ to working with local authorities and elected representatives to improve bus journey times and reliability, including through greater bus priority measures in and around Chichester.
West Sussex County Council said it was aware of the parish council’s concerns.
A spokesperson said: “We are aware of the letter raised by East Wittering and Bracklesham Parish Council. Decisions on commercial bus routes are made by the bus operator with any potential route changes needing to take account of operational requirements and service reliability.
" We will continue to work closely with operators and local councils to understand opportunities and challenges across the network, including whether BSIP funding or other funding opportunities may be available.
"Any funding decision would need to be considered alongside the cost of additional services, other transport priorities, and the benefits it could deliver for all passengers.”