Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement


Premium Article !

Your account has been frozen. For your available options click the below button.

Options

Premium Article !

To read this article in full you must have registered and have a Premium Content Subscription with the Peterborough ET site.

Subscribe

Registered Article !

To read this article in full you must be registered with the site.

Sign In
Register

Readers' letter: Bus changes will force commuters to use their cars 24/07/2008



Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 24 July 2008
I WRITE regarding the decision to stop the taxi bus link between Hampton and the city's train station ("Station bus link to be scrapped by operator", ET, July 19).
I'm a regular user of the taxi bus and accept that the service has to stop due to a lack of passengers. However, I would like to register my disappointment and anger at the changes being made to Stagecoach's Citi 6 bus timetable, which makes my comm
ute to London more difficult and reduces the attractiveness of living in Peterborough.

The key trains for me are the National Express services at 6.40am, 7am, 7.20am and 7.40am. However, the Citi 6 timetable changes will mean that the bus arrives at the station at 6.41am, 7.01am, 7.21am and 7.41am – which seems to be an insult to the travelling public.

Stagecoach had this timetable two years ago and changed it after three months to accommodate users. Drivers soon realised which services were critical and adjusted their route or speed to ensure that passengers didn't miss their trains.

Why aren't the planners at Stagecoach learning from the mistakes of the past?

While we're gaining a 20-minute service up to 8pm, we've lost the evening connection to the station.

Hampton is being held up as an example of sustainable living, where all facilities are within walking distance and the use of the car can be reduced, but we've gone from having frequent taxi bus and Citi 6 bus pick-ups to a far poorer service, which encourages the commuting worker to use his car.

How does this fit with the concept that Peterborough is supposedly a sustainable city at the forefront of ideas, promoting an integrated transport system?

This seems like a massive missed opportunity, but then that's usually what Peterborough is all about – missed opportunities.
DAVID GUNN
via e-mail

Don't make booze too pricey
GOVERNMENT officials and health chiefs have, in recent weeks, suggested that the only way to stamp out binge drinking is to make alcohol far more expensive to purchase.

What a terrible idea. Just because a minority of people cannot enjoy a drink without taking it to excess, why should the majority be penalised?

We are all currently struggling with higher household bills and the doom and gloom of the credit crunch.

Has the Government thought through this plan to make us pay for more for our booze?

There is also a problem with obesity in this country – will we soon have to re-mortgage every time we want to pay a trip to McDonald's?

Will cars be made more expensive to tackle the issue of speeding?

If idiots want to get drunk to the point of illness, they will.



The full article contains 470 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.
Page 1 of 2
Next Page »

  • Last Updated: 25 July 2008 3:06 PM
  • Source: Peterborough ET
  • Location: Peterborough
 
Prev
1
2 3
Next
Last
1

KiwiinPboro,

24/07/2008 15:43:10
David Gunn - you work in London due to high wages and live in Peterborough due to the cheap cost of living.

People like you push the costs up for all locals wanting to buy a place. I could not care if you suffer, you earn more so pay more.

As for putting up the cost of alcohol. A better idea would be ban all supermarkets from selling alcohol. If this can;t be done then make it 50% more expensive and all the chavs and idiots won;t be able to drink.

If you need to drink lots then you need to get a life.
2

Chiefy,

Bretton 24/07/2008 15:57:24
This is primarily addressed to David Gunn - you situation can easily be resolved in one word BIKE! The differential between London wages and those of Peterborough is substatially greater.It is your choice to work in London whilst residing here,you won't get much sympathy from Peterborians. I totally agree with Kiwiin's comments regarding alcohol sales.Alcohol is not an essential.It is the root cause of many problems and has my support for making it more difficult to obtain, if needs be,by higher pricing.
3

Fentyke,

24/07/2008 16:45:46
Oh how simplistic are the views of Chiefy and Kiwiin. It may not have occured to you but some people don't choose to work in London but are told by their employer that they will be working in London. Others such as myself have to work in London because there are simply no local jobs that match their skill set.

I've lived in P'boro for 24 years and worked locally for most of them. Unmfortunately I can no longer do that and have had to commute to London as a consequence. I would much rather work in Town but sadly that is no longer possible. This being the case I'd love to know if you think I too am responsible for pushing up local house prices and the cost of living?

I also think you need to read Mr Gunns letter again because I don't think you got the point he was trying to make. Mr Gunn isn't compaling about the cost, but the service quality. This country needs an integrated transport network if UK Gov PLC is to cut car usage. What Mr Gunn is saying is that the changes to the Citi6 service is unsuitable for the people who use the service and to whom it is targeted. By the looks of your post you really need to losse that chip on your shoulder.
4

KiwiinPboro,

24/07/2008 17:19:30
I think you are the one with the chip on your shoulder. You also choose to work in London as if you don't want to travel there you get a job more local - don't expect symapthy for traveling each day and a higher salary.

I imagine the reason you have not moved to London is the cost of living down there so yes by traveling each day and bringing your higher wage to the area then you have helped increase cost for those who live and work here.

As for the service, it's aimed at people who work outside of the city, mainly in London so if it doesn't work well take a taxi and pay for it and split the cost with others or might you all not have thought of something so simple.

5

FTR,

25/07/2008 08:18:00
I see nothing wrong with Mr Gunn's comments and agree with FenTyke.

Kiwi I read most of your posts on here. It's not a chip, it's full bag of McCains finest.

6

Fentyke,

25/07/2008 09:08:32
Your a nut case Kiwiin. A dilusional one at that. Here's a tip for you mate. When entering into a conversation, it often helps if you listen to what the others have said and when it's your turn to speak, follow on from where others left off. As I said, I had a job locally and if I could find one, I'd gladly accept one again. You assume everyone who commutes to London is extreemly well paid. Wrong. After I've paid my travel costs, I'm no better or wrose off than when I worked locally. This being the case, you right, I couldn't afford to live in London. I know there are a large number of people who are in exactly the same situation as me. What really makes me laugh is your claim that the bus service is aimed at people who live 'outside the city' who 'Mainly work in London'. Firstly, if everyone lived in the city centre it would be very crowded and we wouldn't need a bus service. So yes, the bus service is for people who live outside the city centre. Secondly, before you spouting off, Hampton is what? 5 Miles from the centre. The same as ortons, Longthorpe, Werrington etc. Given the number of people who live in Hampton, I can tell you now, most DO NOT WORK IN LONDON. If they did they'd be no room on the bus or the trains and a lot of empty desks and shops in Peterborough.
7

KiwiinPboro,

25/07/2008 12:08:03
Obviously from your condescending comments FTR & Fentyke I can only assume you think you are better than someone else with your comments and need to feel you cna tell me what to do.

Perhaps when you took the London job Fentyke you lost the position of power locally so you feel the need to feel important with you condescending comments.

I run a very successful business employing local people in this city so I need no lessons from you or your stupid logic to try to justify your London job - it's your choice. If you really hated it so much and as you claim wereno better off you would work elsewhere and stop moaning about it.

I commute for client meetings to London at least twice per week and almost all the people I meet and sit next to are from Hampton heading to a day job. Therefore perhaps you can answer my question as to why not take a taxi and pay for it and split the cost with others?

Again though perhaps you will reply with some comments about something else unrelated to justify this and avoid the whole points that have been made. Enjoy your last few taxi bus link journeys.
8

Dan,

Peterborough 25/07/2008 16:25:58
I'm surprised that no one has seen the proposals to increase alcohol prices for what it is - a deperate attempt to grab more cash for normal people to delay the point this country is declared bankrupt.
Besides, and hike in the price of alcohol will simply see more people buying their drinks off the grey or black market meaning NOTHING gets to the treasury and instead it will swell the pockets of organised crime.
Clearly not an idea that has benefited from the quick history lesson of Prohibition in the US all those years ago...

As for the commuting question, it's not as black and white as either side of the mini debate here have made out, you don't have to work in London, you don't have to work anywhere really, but at the same time, given that teh city made such a thing of attracting commuters, to ditch the service does seem a bit stupid. However, how many people does this ACTUALLY affect?
9

Fentyke,

25/07/2008 16:39:46
Condesending - To behave patronisingly towards one's supposed inferiors or to do something as if it were beneath ones dignity.

Your deluded mate and need help. Firstly you assume (again) that I think I'm better than anybody else. Wrong. You assume (again) I had power to loose. Wrong. You assume that just because you've sat next to a few people who live in Hampton and work in London, everybody who lives in Hampton works in London. Wrong. You assume I feel a need to justify my job in London. Wrong. You assume I've taken a job in London becasue I get paid shed loads more than I would doing the same job locally. Wrong. You assume that I hate it. Wrong. Take comfort mate. At least your good at one thing.

I don't need to justify myslef to anyone pal. I'm perfectly happy with how and where I make my living and am now going to take great pleasure in pointing out that it is obvious from these posts that it is in fact you who has a problem with where I work, how I get to work and what affect it may or may not be having on the local economy. I only entered this debate in an attempt to point out that you missed the point of the original letter. But then I thought I was discussing things with an inteligent human being but I guess I was wrong. Carry on though becasue I'm more than happy to see somebody like you embarass yourself. So please do continue and give us all a good laugh. How you run a successful business is beyond me. From what I've seem all you do is make incorrect assumptions and that does not bode well for a businessman. I pity the poor souls who have to work for someody like you too. I know I couldn't do it.
Still, each totm heir own so carry on and beleive what you want mate. I'll be loosing no sleep.
10

KiwiinPboro,

25/07/2008 17:08:28
You'll be loosing no sleep yet you waffle on and try to shoot down my points depsite still failing to answer my question. So here it is again - in case you really are too stupid it's on the line below:

Why not take a taxi and pay for it and split the cost with others?

As for my business, the people I work with enjoy their job and get paid well and I have no complaints. I am good at what I do - it's usually how you become successful. Maybe try it and you might do better.

I am sure if poll was done of all people who work in London and where they live, a large percentage would be in Hampton. Sadly most still pay for car parking rather than take a bus as most get companies to pay for the parking and train fare.

Maybe one day you'll not be so bitter about having to travel to London for your job and can then either not be jealous of those of us either making more money than you in London or who do well for themselves locally.

Oh well I'll let you keep embarassing yourself and seeing the green eyed monster appear some more!
Prev
1
2 3
Next
Last

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
  

 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.