02/07/10 - Councillors tackle Thamesdown Transport about bus services

Conservative ward councillors have expressed serious concern over a number of changes to bus services in Abbey Meads announced today by private operator Thamesdown Transport. In particular, residents of Ash Brake will be left without a bus service altogether following there-routing of the number 24. And service 18,which is used by manyNorth Swindon residents, is being withdrawn altogether, although most areas will be served insteadby new or re-routed services.

The most significant changes affecting Abbey MeadsWard, all starting from Sunday 25 July 2010,are as follows:

15 - Revised timetable, now operating every 20 minutes between Fleming Wayand Haydon Wick. Abbey Meads now served by service 24. The evening service has been withdrawn.

15A - New service every 20 minutes between Fleming Way, Northern Road, Akers Way, Taw Hill, Oakhurst, Redhouse and Haydon Wick, replacing service 18.

18 - Existing service to North Swindonhas been withdrawn. Taw Hill, Oakhurst and Redhouse now served by new service 15A.

22 - Rerouted via Devizes Road, Goddard Avenueand Okus, terminating at the Link Centre. The extension to Taw Hill is withdrawn.

24 - No longer serves Ash Brake or KembreyPark. Rerouted via Abbey Meads and most journeys will call at Kembrey Inn. Journeys towards Blunsdon now leave from Stop E on Fleming Way. Journeys towards GreatWesternHospitalwill now leave from Stop W on Fleming Way. The nearest bus stops for residents of Ash Brake will be at the top of Elstree Way, at Asda Walmart,or on Eastbury Way.

Cllr Peter Heaton-Jones said, "This is very disappointing. I have today made representations tothe head of Thamesdown Transport on behalf of local residents because this will present passengers in Ash Brake with considerable problems. He explained that the number 24 busis havingto be diverted out of Ash Brake inorder to replace the number 15 serving Abbey Meads, which itself is having to be withdrawn due to funding pressures elsewhere on the network.

"Of course the bus company has to operate these services ona commercial basis. Despite what local passengers might think, Thamesdown said the Ash Brake servicesare consistently under-used and simply not commercially viable, and it wouldn't be possible to divert even a few services a day through Ash Brake because of timetabling requirements.

"It is a great shame that Ash Brakeis losing its bus service and I have made it clear to Thamesdown that I believe this is a most unfortunate decision for local residents. Howeverthey are an autonomous and independentorganisation, and I fearthis is not a decision that they will reconsider".

Full detailsof the changes can be found on Thamesdown Transport's website