One of our regulars readers, Sean, has pointed out the following consultation being carried out by the County Council:
Review of the County Council’s Bus Strategy
Essex County Council would like to hear your views as it starts a review of its Bus Strategy and how it provides financial support to local bus services. In this challenging economic climate it is very important that we focus our expenditure where it is really needed to ensure value for money for residents. This review will help to ensure that the bus services provided by the council meet, as far as possible, the essential needs of Essex. The outcome of the review will help to decide what types of service will be supported in future.
This first consultation stage is designed to help us understand which types of supported bus service you value most. Individual services are not being considered for change at this stage. You will have the opportunity at a later stage to give your views on any proposed changes to individual services that may result from the review.
To respond to the surveyTo respond online, please click here to answer the survey. The survey is open until 9 December 2013.
Sean has also very helpfully sent us the following:
In the Rochford District, Essex County Council provide support to the following services:
Monday to Saturday
7 ECC supports three services per hour between approx 0900 and 1500 to extend from Ashingdon Schools to Hockley Spa
(see next description of cut)
8 ECC supports one service per hour between approx 0900 and 1500 to extend from Golden Cross to Hockley Spa
If support for extending weekday bus services beyond Ashingdon Schools / Golden Cross were cut there would only be an hourly service on the number 8 via Hawkwell and a half-hourly service between Hockley and Southend compared to every ten minutes at present.
10 ECC supports the whole timetable for this Wednesday only bus service between Canewdon and Rayleigh
If this support for this service were cut there would be no service.
14 ECC suports the whole timetable between Foulness/Shoebury and Southend via Barling
If this support for this service were cut there would be no service.
60 ECC suports the whole timetable between Canewdon and Southend via Ballards Gore and Rochford
If this support for this service were cut there would be no service.
Sundays
1 ECC supports from 2047 between the Thames Drive (almost Hadleigh) to Rayleigh section .
If this were cut the last Number 1 to reach Rayleigh would depart Southend at 1920 (Hadleigh 1947, Thundersley 1955). The last bus to reach Southend would depart from Rayleigh at 2006 (Thundersley 2017, Hadleigh 2025)
7 ECC supports the 1829 (1820) journey from Rayleigh to Southend
If this was cut there would be a one and a half hour gap between the last number 8 and the next number 7, or a two hour gap between services if the number 8 service were also cut.
8 ECC supports the whole number 8 timetable between Southend and Rayleigh.
If this was cut there would be no bus service in Hawkwell and only an hourly service between Southend – Rochford – Hockley – Rayleigh on Sundays.
20 Sunday – Southend to Hullbridge 1925 & 2050 journeys. Hullbridge to Southend 2014 journey. Hullbridge to Rayleigh 2135 journey.
If support for these services was cut the last bus from Hullbridge on Sundays would be the 1852 and the last bus to Hullbridge would depart Southend at 1822 (Rayleigh 1901)
The way to deal with ‘public consultations’ and poorly designed surveys like this is to vote everything as being very important.
That way, the ‘officer’ can’t justify any cuts by saying that the public feel that certain services are less important than others.
Also, I missed off those service which pass through the district rather than originate or terminate here. These service are also at risk:
Monday to Saturday
3 ECC supports the majority of services between Southend and Chelmsford via Daws Heath
4A ECC supports the 2010 and 2040 services between Southend and Shoeburyness
Sunday
4A ECC supports the whole service on Sundays
11A ECC supports the whole service between Southend and Chelmsford
25 ECC supports the service between Wickford and Basildon
251 ECC supports the whole timetable between Southend and Warley