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No 9 Bus Protest |
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Protest against changes to No9 Bus
Service including cancellation of Sunday
service
Reading, 14 July 2008:
School children, senior citizens,
hospital users, councillors and Rob
Wilson MP will be protesting against
proposed changes to the Number 9 Bus on
Monday 14th July at 5 pm
today.
Residents are unhappy that they
will be forced to change buses at the
Station for onward travel to the Royal
Berkshire Hospital and schools if
Reading Buses goes ahead and alters the
service.
Local
residents Charlie Burt (91) and his wife
(89) are completely reliant on the
buses. “I don’t drive any more and my
wife and I have to get to the hospital
frequently. At our age we do not want
to have to deal with changing buses.
Sometimes I have to get to hospital by 7
am and this is only possible
with a
straight run.”
Cllr Fred Pugh,
Councillor for Mapledurham Ward, said "I
am behind the residents here. Many
elderly residents need a direct service
to the hospital, and loss of this
service would cause considerable
hardship. I am also concerned about the
proposed withdrawal of the Sunday
service. I fought hard for Sunday buses
which started about a year ago. There
are usually 10 to 12 people on each
bus. There is a need for this service.
Not everybody in Caversham Heights owns
a car. This premier route is well used
on weekdays, and surely makes enough
money to cover a Sunday service as
well."
Cllr Andrew Cumpsty,
Leader of the Conservatives and
Caversham Ward Councillor, commented,
“At a time when we are trying to
persuade people to use public transport,
rather than their car, this seems a
bizarre decision and I would urge
Reading Buses to reverse it! Residents
and businesses in Caversham have raised
real concerns over this decision with me
and I hope that even at this late stage,
the right decision can be taken".
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