16/03/2014 – Press Release – Cuts to Burgess Hill Bus Service 34/35
Burgess Hill Labour Party deplores the decision of Metrobus to severely curtail the Burgess Hill Town Service 34/35 from 5 April to only operate Monday-Friday mornings, and to withdraw buses from Chanctonbury Road, Hammonds Ridge and Jane Murray Way. This will mean that many Burgess Hill residents will not be able to travel to Tesco or The Triangle without changing buses, with all of the inconvenience and expense that entails for many, and leaves many residents on the west side of the town without any bus services.
Burgess Hill Labour Party believes that this problem is caused by the privatised bus industry which means that operators can withdraw services at any time - provided they give the requisite notice to the Traffic Commissioner - without giving any thought to those who will not be able to make the journeys they are used to. From 5 April, the revised Metrobus service will closely follow the existing The SussexBus 134/135 service rather than provide a service to the west side of the town.
Burgess Hill Town Councillor Janet Smith said “Burgess Hill Labour Party calls on West Sussex County Council to make suitable arrangements to replace the facilities that Metrobus are withdrawing after 4 April as County Councils are empowered to make arrangements for other operators to replace withdrawn services”.
David Chalkley
Secretary
Burgess Hill Branch Labour Party