Bus cuts to hit Arlesey and Henlow after Stagecoach announces timetable changes
Bus routes serving Arlesey and Henlow are to be reduced following an announcement by Stagecoach.
Cuts to routes 9A and 9B will come into effect at the end of May after Stagecoach announced the services were no longer commercially viable.
But councillors say residents who rely on buses to get to work, college, shops and medical appointments will be hit hard by the reduction of the service.
The company has issued a new timetable for the services, which have been reduced to run hourly instead of every 30 minutes. This means that places where the two routes diverge, including Henlow and Arlesey, will only have a service every other hour instead of hourly as at present.
Stagecoach has not responded to our request for a comment.
Jodie Chillery, Central Beds Councillor for Arlesey and Fairfield, explained route 9B will no longer serve Haynes village and will call at the Haynes Turn stops on the A600. Early morning and late evening journeys will also be reduced.
Additional hourly buses will operate as route 9D on Monday to Saturday daytimes between Henlow Camp and Stevenage, operating via Queen Street in Hitchin to serve the Asda supermarket.
“These services operate on a fully commercial basis and so there was little influence that any council officers or other stakeholders could bring to bear on Stagecoach’s decision”, she said in a Facebook post.
“I’ve made the case that these changes are useless for those using the service for commuting, or attending appointments and does nothing to encourage cars off the road.
"Despite the enormous amount of development along the route and Railway station destinations along the way (Arlesey mainly but also Hitchin and Bedford) and colleges and schools on the route, none of this translates into an increase in passengers and therefore revenue.
“If anything there has been a decline in usage and an increase in costs,” she added.
Passengers have responded angrily on social media, hitting out at the bus company over plans they say are unfair and will impact passengers in rural communities.
One mother commented: “I can’t believe the timing of this, it’s incredibly upsetting. My son is due to start Bedford College in September relying on the bus to get there for 9am and if I’m reading this timetable correctly he will now have to find another college as he now won’t be able to get there. The timing of this change is poorly planned.
Another said: “You’d think getting kids to a CBC college might be important instead of just making transport to a Herts college easier.
Other used agreed, saying: “I don't know where Stagecoach get the idea that the 9A is not commercial viable. As buses throughout day are always busy. More often than not buses fail. To show up at times during the day due some excuse or another from Stagecoach.”
“I often use the bus to Lister Hospital, very convenient and NO parking, it’s usually well used especially to Hitchin. Arlesey being forgotten again!!!”
Residents have also claimed the elderly and disabled will also be hit hard and will be left with a long walk to catch the bus.
One said: “We’ve had massive issues about this in Haynes as some villagers will have to walk over a mile to catch the bus; it is well used and this is so unfair and will leave many people including elderly and disabled homebound. Something really needs to be done about this.”
Cllr Chillery added: “Despite a lot of complaints (on Facebook) and concern over losing this service the fact is not enough people use it to make it viable. This means the most vulnerable in society who rely on it will now suffer.
“I’m as upset as you about it but no council can subsidise the service to the amount likely required.”