Calls made for better late night bus services in Sevenoaks
DEMAND is there but the buses are not, those running the Stag have said as they call for a better service for Sevenoaks.
Kent County Council and Arriva, which are responsible for the buses, were told Sevenoaks needs more evening buses and a circular service around the town for those living on the outskirts.
-
MORE SERVICES: Demand for buses routes to other towns from Sevenoaks later into the evening is increasing
The demands for better public transport follows a Chronicle investigation highlighting the state of the bus service within the area.
Sevenoaks town councillor Andrew Eyre said: "I get a lot of feedback from people at the Stag who say quite simply they don't come in the evening because they can't get back home. Someone coming in from Borough Green or Wrotham has to catch the bus home at 7pm.
"Someone coming in from Westerham at 6pm, Tonbridge at 8pm.
"This doesn't constitute much of a night out."
Cllr Eyre also asked whether a circular bus route around the residential areas on the outskirts of the town centre was possible.
At a Sevenoaks District Council environment select committee meeting on Tuesday last week, Arriva commercial manager Malcolm Spalding said running commercial services in the area came down to finding sustainable demand.
But there could be light at the end of the tunnel. County council public transport planner Daniel Washington said bus provision was up for tender next year, which would give the authority an opportunity to see if better use could be made of resources available.
Cllr Eyre said: "One of the reasons there is no demand is there are no buses.
"Maybe we need to get together to discuss when there's demand."
Sevenoaks Rail Travellers Association, who were also at the meeting, said more people might use the existing buses if there was more information about them.
Association chairman Roger Johnson said: "There's the commuter service (the 452) which goes up to Riverhead and Chipstead. There's no publicity.
"One of the things we found, within Sevenoaks, it's impossible to find information on the service, anywhere, not even on the bus stop.
"We were told at the time of the BT building being put up that there would be real time information.
"We're still waiting for that.
"We'd like to see a real time display to tell visitors coming for business or tourism so they know when the next bus is leaving and where it's going."
The association surveyed commuters during February and found only four out of 153 who responded used the bus to get to the station.
Mr Washington said he would investigate getting a real time display for the station and Mr Spalding said he would look into making sure information on bus stops was up to date.
5 Comments
by Merilyn Canet, Late Buses
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 2:08PM
“The fact that there seem to be no buses in the evening is important to people working who can't get home. I employed people who had to leave early to catch the last bus at 5.30pm!
Now that Seniors have a bus pass it would be nice to have information as to when they run and to which places.
A friend took the bus from Sevenoaks to a matinee in Tunbridge Wells last week and had to leave before the end in order to catch the bus back!
The bus operators and Councils must work together to improve this sad situation if we are to reduce traffic on the roads. Urgently. Merilyn Canet”
by Jock, Paddock Wood
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 11:59AM
“This problem isnt just confined to the Sevenoaks area. It is impossible to get around using public transport in the evening.
Like Dan in Edenbridge, I'm faced with at least a £30 taxi journey to either Maidstone or West Malling. And another £30 back.
I could get easyjet flights abroad for less.
Something needs to be done. For too long the South Easts public transport has been a joke.
Its common knowledge that south of the river Thames public transport is inadequate and overpriced.
Less talk, more action. If the government wants us out of our cars then provide a viable alternative thats affordable.”
by P W, From SE In NW
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 9:47AM
“Ah! Fond Memories of the lousy public transport infrastructure down South! Thank goodness I now live in a place with even four buses an hour on a Sunday!
It's better Up North! :D Must go - got to take the whippet out! He's mithering me flat cap again!”
by Alan Bullion, Sevenoaks
Monday, April 27 2009, 4:39PM
“This needs joined up action between both the district and county councils to provide better services for the villages and surrounding towns in the evenings.”
by Dan, Edenbridge
Sunday, April 26 2009, 2:53PM
“This isnt just the case on the buses, the trains arent that much better, later services on the trains and buses need to be obtained to stop the taxi drivers in sevenoaks charging over the odds. Because of the poor services ive had to in the past use taxi's from sevenoaks back to Edenbridge, for 10 miles they charged me £30 on the meter, pure profiteering by the taxi firms.”