HOUGHTON ON THE HILL PARISH COUNCIL CLERK TO THE COUNCIL: MR. S. DERRY 66 Balmoral Road Mountsorrel Loughborough LE12 7EN

2nd December 2016

Mr P. Crossland Director of Environment and Transport Leicestershire County Council County Hall LE3 8RA

Dear Mr Crossland,

Centrebus, the current operator of the 747 bus service has announced the termination of this service with effect from 7January 2017. The service has been deregistered with the Traffic Commisioners. Residents and visitors will be seriously affected by the loss of this service which runs through the following villages and town:-

Thurnby East Norton Bushby Belton in Rutland Houghton on the Hill Billesdon Skeffington Tugby

In addition the residents of villages close to the A47 will also be affected. It is understood that people travel from these villages to bus stops along the A4 namely:-

Scraptoft Keyham Hungarton Lowesby Halstead Tilton on the Hill Gaulby Loddington Rolleston

Significant danger to sustainable lifestyle will be caused to students going to school and college. It is an important freedom for young people in villages who would otherwise have to rely completely on adults to provide them with transport. Residents use the bus to get to and from their place of work, and many are saying that it is possible that they will lose their jobs. Some people do not drive, because they have health problems, but they still need to get to and from work. A significant proportion of the elderly may not drive and for them the social aspect is hugely important, they can feel isolated, and travelling on the bus provides an opportunity for them to chat with other passengers. It may be the only time in their day when they have a conversation. It also provides access to shops in Leicester and Uppingham. A proportion of residents of up to 16 villages use the bus to access

General Practitioner health care. Only three of these communities have Doctors’ Surgeries. Additionally, residents may need to go to a hospital, dentists or opticians.

There is little alternative transport. To travel by train or even to connect to another bus route would mean an expensive taxi ride. Most of the villages mentioned previously have very few facilities. Residents pay their council tax but often feel they get few benefits.

A public meeting held in the evening of Tuesday 29 November at Houghton on the Hill was attended by several Parish and Town Councillors together with , Leicestershire and Rutland County Councillors. Notably the meeting was also attended by over 100 residents who would be affected by the loss of the bus service. A significant proportion of attendees were young people who raised important concerns at the damaging effect on their education. An on-line protest petition has already attracted over 1,600 names and several hundred further signatures are on paper petitions that will be forwarded to you.

As both Rutland and Leicestershire County Councils have statutory responsibilities to fund transport to Schools and Colleges for students under 17 years of age, it is evident that older College and University students, the elderly or infirm and those without access to personal transport would be stranded while under-utilised school buses would still have to be funded. Omnibus means ‘For All’.

The Parishes along the A47 are united in their appeal to you to provide an emergency bus service from January 9th. Furthermore, in the longer term to provide a subsidy if necessary to enable the residents of East Leicestershire to be served by this essential bus route. Are we to be the only people in Leicestershire and part of Rutland to be living alongside the only main road to Leicester City that does not have a bus service?

It is evident that there is a lack of ‘Joined up thinking’ where District Councils are requiring housing developers to provide up to 40% of new build properties as affordable accommodation for those on low incomes (and their families). These are the very people who will rely on public transport. If there is none, the A47 corridor will be colonized only by the wealthy, fit and those able to drive.

It is interesting to compare the Arriva Leicester – Market Harborough half-hourly operation (70 minutes end to end) which offers a £6.20 day ticket with Centrebus’ Leicester – Uppingham charging £6.70 single (£13.40 return) for a 55 minute ride. No wonder this fails to attract more customers.

We hope that Leicestershire County Council will be able to obtain usage figures and accurate financial information from Centrebus to enable meaningful action to be taken to maintain or replace this vital service.

Yours sincerely,

Steve Derry Clerk to Houghton on the Hill Parish Council