305 Bus Service Public Meeting - Update 19/04/10
The new 305 timetable, attached, which is to commence on Monday 10 May 2010.
We have basically gone with the timetable suggested by the Parishes and passengers with a slight adjustment to allow for the driver to be able to take a break in Uxbridge.
The new timetable is to be operated by Carousel Buses. Their current 305 journeys, 1710 ex Beaconsfield & 1755 ex Uxbridge Monday to Friday, and 1726 ex Chalfont St Giles & 1755 ex Uxbridge on Saturdays are withdrawn.
You will see that Carousel propose to extend the first and last journeys from/to High Wycombe in service.
Regards,
John Bass
Senior Passenger Transport Officer
Transport for Buckinghamshire
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A second meeting was held at 4pm Wednesday February 10th, chaired by Philip Clarke, Seer Green Parish Council Chairman, with about 60 present from both Seer Green and Chalfont St Giles, including 3 Chalfont St Giles Parish Councilors and 2 elected members of Bucks County Council, Peter Cartwright and Tim Butcher. Both of the latter made positive and effective contributions.
Cllr Clarke started by telling the meeting that Jason Tours had given notice of termination of their contract, just a fortnight after starting operations and taking effect from 10 May. This posed a huge dilemma for BCC, who now had either to appoint a lower ranking company from the original tender process, or go out to tender afresh, or appoint their own choice of operator because of the special circumstances that applied. He felt that whichever they choose would, however, give our meeting a unique opportunity to contribute to the process. However the meeting felt that If BCC had heeded some of the warnings given, about giving the contract first to such a small and inexperienced operator as Jason Tours, for the benefit of a modest financial gain, the County Council would have avoided the embarrassing consequences and extra costs they now faced.
Cllr Clarke was able to report back on the outcome of considering the three options for the 305 that were put forward at the last meeting, viz A. diverting the 336, B. improvement of the existing Jason Tours timetable, and C. a substitute shuttle operation between Beaconsfield and Chalfont St Peter.
On A, a recent meeting with the 336 operator Carousel had shown that there was little possibility of this service being diverted in the short term for various reasons. On B, there had been found to be little scope for significant improvement, except possibly for the Saturday service, with only one man and one bus. On C, warnings were given of instances in the County where such a proposal had been tried elsewhere and failed disastrously because of bus connection and timing difficulties.
At this point of the meeting, Cllr Cartwright spoke of his considerable personal efforts on November/ December to get an alternative scheme considered which had fallen on deaf ears. This adopted a more holistic approach, considering the Arriva 305 buses, the Carousel 305 service and the Jordans shuttle together. Putting the three individual subsidies (£ 60K p a. pre 2010) into a single pot should, he argued, provide enough extra finance to support a single operator to do the three operations in one improved holistic scheme. He circulated his proposal for the meeting to see, explaining that BCC officers had rejected it because of the impossibly tight timescale allowed for consultation, something they had imposed on themselves when they gave Arriva notice of termination for running the 305. The re-submission of his proposal, with the amendment of taking out the High Wycombe to Beaconsfield element of the proposal, was adopted as Option D, after the meeting had endorsed the professionalism of Cllr Cartwright and acknowledged the painstaking work he had put into his proposal.
The meeting voted on Options A, B, C, and D, and overwhelming backed Cllr Cartwright's approach, Option D. Cllr Butcher added his support and said that there must be no delay in getting the proposal to the County Officials concerned. The whole meeting agreed this.
There were several additional criteria that the residents would like considered in establishing the new service:
That the service should make good connections with the 336 for the significant minority who wish to travel to Amersham station from the villages
That the operator be encouraged to make a proposal that includes commercial extension of the service to High Wycombe
That the operator by LEZ compliant so that access to Uxbridge bus station is not prohibited (although remains at the discretion of TFL)
That the operator be suitably resourced such that back-up buses and drivers are available to ensure that a reliable service be maintained.
That reasonable access to and from local medical facilities (GP’s, hospitals) be ensured.
Contact: Parish Clerk: 01494 874233 or clerk@seergreenparishcouncil.gov.uk
Chairman: 01494 870512 or 07771 51404