The Glaven Valley Benefice
CLEY PARISH COUNCIL
|
The Glaven Valley BeneficeCLEY PARISH COUNCIL |
|
|||
One of our part-time residents has complained about the state of the bus shelter by Newgate Green. Notwithstanding the fact that it is only through the heroic actions of the council in taming the wild undergrowth that he was able to even see the bus shelter, let alone complain about it, the matter was put before the council at the last meeting where, despite pleas that the graffiti were of historical interest (the perpetrator is probably a grandparent by now) it was agreed to repaint the interior of the bus shelter. This work should be done in the next month or two – just in time for the likely end of the bus service.
On behalf of the Parish Council I attended a meeting in Blakeney called by the County Council to "discuss" the future of the number 45 bus route from Holt via Cley to Fakenham. A new contract has been signed for the Holt-Norwich part of the route so that is safe for the time being but the rest of it is likely for the chop when the current contract ends in August. The County claimed, rather disingenuously, that nothing had been decided – which presumably means that, though no new contract has yet been signed, they will not be happy bunnies if they don't get what they want. And what they want is to replace the normal bus with a "flexi-bus (not to be confused with the dreaded bendi-bus) service "roaming" between Holt and Fakenham. This would operate much like the Age Concern Dial-a-Ride service in that it will pick you up from your home, or as near as possible to it, and deposit you in Holt (or Fakenham), provided that you have phoned up and booked it at least one day in advance. That doesn't sound very "flexi" to me.
The council's handbill claimed, among other things, that "the bus will provide a quick comfortable ride in a modern accessible bus" but only if you're the only one using it. If several people want to use it, and given the average directionally-challenged bus driver, your journey will be considerably longer than it is now. They also announced that "concessionary bus passes will be accepted" but will not presumably be compulsory. For those poor souls too young to qualify for a bus pass, the fares will likely be higher than at present.
While I'll be the first to admit that the number 45 is woefully underused, especially in off-peak hours – driving it can be one of the loneliest jobs in Norfolk – part of the problem must be a lack of publicity for the service. The CoastHopper and the Bittern Line have shown how successful good publicity and community involvement can be in boosting ridership, and thereby reducing car use. The 45 by contrast has been one of the best-kept secrets in the county: minimal publicity, real difficulty in obtaining timetable leaflets and no attempt to market it as part of the tourist experience (or as a feeder to the CoastHopper). It has been a purely local service for those in the know. The proposed change to a flexi-bus would drive away the casual users and anyone else with a choice – this much was admitted by the bus operator himself.
Given that there will have to be more-or-less fixed journeys in the early morning and late afternoon to cater for the school/college/work needs, having two flexi-buses with drivers plus someone to mind the telephone during the rest of the day doesn't strike me as being significantly cheaper than having proper buses trundling around while filling in between turns on other routes. A sample flexi-bus was drawn up outside the village hall for our inspection – it had been borrowed from Breckland for the afternoon so I hope no one there wanted to use it – and it is indeed a modern vehicle. It even seemed to have a bit more leg-room than some of Sanders' vehicles so someone like me wouldn't have to travel with their knees in unnaturally close proximity to their ears. But this is still an unacceptably reductionist approach to public transport and the county council representatives were faced with a universally hostile audience (some of whom even use the bus), though apparently not as hostile as the one in North Walsham, where it seems they are trying to pull the same stunt. Oh well, it was a good service while it lasted.
As a matter of principle, I made a point of travelling to and from the meeting by bus (yes, Doctor, I probably should have walked) so thanks to those who offered me a lift – I hope my refusal didn't offend. Of course it transpired that I travelled both ways on the CoastHopper rather than the 45...
The next meeting of Cley Parish Council will be preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting on Tuesday 6 May at 7pm as usual, just after the last buses have run. Cley Parish News (ie the annual report to parishioners) will be available at the meeting.
Richard Kelham