Councillors slam Stagecoach's decision to axe 'lifeline' bus services in Peterborough

City councillors have hit out at Stagecoach’s decision to cut three bus routes in Peterborough, saying services should be improved, not scrapped.

The decision to cut services 23 and 24 – which run from the city centre to Lynch Wood, and the 29, which links Hampton and the City Hospital, was announced yesterday by the bus company.

A number of other routes across Cambridgeshire were also scrapped, as Stagecoach said the costs involved running the services – which they said were hardly used – were unsustainable.

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, called for the services to be saved.

Today Peterborough city councillors agreed.

‘These bus services are a lifeline for residents’

Cllr Nicola Day, a Green councillor who represents the Orton Waterville ward, said: “The Peterborough Green Party are deeply concerned about the announcement of cuts to bus services. This will impact residents living in the Orton's with the 23, 24 and 29 service due to be axed.

“These bus services are a lifeline for residents, particularly the 29 which takes people to the Hospital. The main bus route which goes to Lynch Wood business park is also due to be axed, meaning people will no longer be able to travel to work on public transport. We urge the Mayor and the Combined Authority to intervene.”

Fellow Orton Waterville councillor Julie Stevenson, an independent councillor, said: “The current system, that allows commercial bus operators to pick and choose where services will run, is failing Peterborough.

"The Combined Authority Mayor has the power to ask the Government to allow franchising of our bus services, which will mean that buses will run according to residents’ needs, not corporate profits.

"How can it be right that a new service (the 29) is to be axed when it provides a vital service to a group of residents who otherwise struggle to get to hospital appointments? The number may be small but the need is critical.

"If we cannot provide bus services where our residents need them, our older and disabled people will be less and less economically active in our city, because they won’t be able to get to the shops, banks and libraries.”

‘Cuts are unacceptable’

While some services were cut, Stagecoach did confirm some services would be increased, including a service from Parnwell to Peterborough Hospital new morning service to support ‘early shift’ workers, and the service from Peterborough to Hampton being increased to every 20 minutes.

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Wiggin, who represents Hampton Vale, said services should be improved, not scrapped, and added: “I am pleased that the number 6 service is being restored to pre-pandemic service levels, this will be a welcome boost to residents of Hampton.

“However I am very disappointed that the recently introduced 29 service between Hampton and the City Hospital via Orton is to be withdrawn. I believe this service was never given the chance to succeed as it only ran between 9am and 2pm so those who commute by bus from Hampton to Orton and the City Hospital could not use it. I agree with Mayor Johnson that these cuts are unacceptable, and urge Stagecoach to reconsider both the decision to cut the service and the timetable.”

Darren Roe, Managing Director of Stagecoach East, said: “We do sympathise with those affected customers. But even with short-term Government funding, those routes are unfortunately financially unsustainable.

"The changes in travel patterns we have seen over the past two years have further highlighted that traditional fixed route bus services are not the most appropriate or financially viable option in many rural and less-populated areas. Consideration needs to be given to alternative mobility solutions and these are inevitably going to require local transport authority involvement and investment.

"There needs to be an open and honest conversation around what is the most appropriate way to ensure that communities in more rural areas remain connected and we remain committed to playing our part in those discussions.”

The new timetable is available at https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/east/east-bus-network