The Wheels on the bus go round and round all day....er....until 10.00

In October there will be several changes to bus services in Basingstoke. You can't see them by clicking on a link that isn't here.



The lack of link isn't my laziness, but a lack of information. Ask when the last bus leaves, and we're left with an educated guess from those who really should know.


The thing that annoys me the most is a lack of consultation. The changes should have been discussed in a committee, a proper and full explanation of changes could have been sent to the relevant ward councillors. But rather than their local knowledge, we're left with information dripping out, and only when it's squeezed. And of course, of all the 12 months you could have made the changes, they pick the Summer holidays when Councillors, like bus users are away.

I have asked the most important and obvious question. "How many people are catching the busses that will no longer run?"

 I can't even get an answer to that. A combination of 'we don't know' or ' it's commercially sensitive'. Rubbish. The Bus company know exactly how many tickets are sold on these journeys, it's the information they're using to cut the loss making routes. How can it be commercially sensitive when you have a monopoly. If they said "we're cutting the number 3 at 10.00 because no one's caught it for 12 weeks" I would understand.

As many bus routes are subsidised by us, the tax payer, we have every right to know about changes to the service. We have every right to scrutinise these changes.


I don't think it is fair to expect the tax payer to fund a bus to drive round empty at 10.00pm on the off chance that one day someone might want to catch it. I understand that running a nearly empty bus on the same route a half empty train is wasteful, both financially and environmentally. But some routes, though not profitable, are vital. Without the proper information or debate, I don't know which route is which.


Not for the first time, we will be left with a bus company pleading poverty (though they will no doubt announce big profits later) , The Tory County Council will stash a bit more cash in the reserves, and whilst we're left in the dark, you're left at the bus stop.

Update Oh what a surprise