Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage has written a strongly worded letter to senior management at First Buses regarding the unwelcome changes to local bus routes.
At the beginning of the year, First announced that a number of services would be re-routed and subject to new timetables. Having received complaints from people affected by these changes, Caroline has written to the company to express her thoughts and request an urgent meeting. She is now awaiting a response.
Of particular concern is the re-routing of the number 9 bus which will no longer travel via Alverstoke village, leaving the area served only by the new number 11 bus once every two hours.
Caroline commented:
"Gosport is one of the largest towns in the country which isn't serviced by a railway station, making the local community hugely dependent on the bus network. Whilst I recognise that First is an independent company which has to consider the financial viability of its services, some of the changes will cause great inconvenience for local bus users and will not have a hugely positive commercial impact.
Therefore, I have written to First asking them to meet with me as a matter of urgency and to reconsider some of the new routes. I would urge all of those who will be affected to do the same. The more people who voice their concerns, the greater the chances are of seeing a return to previous schedules."
Caroline is hopeful that First Buses will seriously consider the effect the new timetable is having on Constituents and make the necessary changes particularly to accommodate the elderly and those that don't have access to any other forms of transport.