CONCERNS have been raised by passengers this week over the reliability of bus services in Burgh Castle.It is claimed that buses on the No 5 service between the village and Great Yarmouth are often late or even fail to turn up.
CONCERNS have been raised by passengers this week over the reliability of bus services in Burgh Castle.
It is claimed that buses on the No 5 service between the village and Great Yarmouth are often late or even fail to turn up.
Now Yarmouth MP Tony Wright has pledged to raise the issue with operator First East England after complaints about the service.
Controversial timetable changes in April saw the number of buses halved on the route and a direct link with Gorleston town centre ended.
Sunday and evening services also ended when the No 7 service, which previously served Burgh Castle, was re-routed to run directly between Belton and Gorleston
Retired office supervisor Maureen Grey regularly uses the service to travel to Yarmouth and Norwich.
She said: “The bus didn't turn up at all when I tried to catch it Tuesday last week and this was not the first time, it must have happened about 15 times in all since the service started running.
“People just stand there frustrated not knowing if the bus is late or not coming at all. There is a widespread feeling of discontent in the village, but First Bus is not doing anything to address our complaints.
“The service is just not good enough, this is a popular holiday village and on one occasion, during the summer, there must have been more 20 people waiting at the stop on Mill Lane.”
First East England spokesman Gussy Alamein, said: "We undertook a review of our bus services which resulted in changes being introduced in April.
“These changes were in response to passenger demand and we have received positive feedback as a result. We remain committed to making bus services in the area the best they can be.
“As regards reliability of our services, every month on our website we publish our latest reliability figures - for November 2009 this is an impressive 99pc."
What do you think? Write to Letters at The Mercury, 169 King Street, Great Yarmouth NR30 2PA or email anne.edwards@archant.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here