Green councillors have been to the forefront in the battle to restore axed Stagecoach bus services. So far success is measured in the return of the No 10 Folkestone to Ashford service through Lympne.
The village found itself without bus services over the summer as Stagecoach introduced a raft of cost savings, including closing Cheriton’s bus garage and a voluntary redundancy offer to drivers, which had a surprisingly big uptake. The ensuing driver shortage led to significant cuts to schedules, particularly at the start of the new school term.
The redundancies were limited but that did not save the No 10 route through Lympne and required a concerted campaign by Green councillors to have it restored.
Now, efforts continue to persuade Stagecoach to restore the No 10 early morning service for workers and school children and to reopen a Sunday service for the convenience in particular of people attending William Harvey hospital.
Stagecoach was severely affected by the Covid epidemic and even now passenger numbers have not returned to what they were before Covid struck.
While paid-for bus ticket sales are back to near normal, the main problem rests with the passenger category for senior citizens with bus passes, 25% down on the pre-Covid numbers. Councillors have met with Stagecoach and urge more people to use their bus routes, to avoid more cuts and possibly lead to the expansion of other routes.
Green councillors are urging the public to support a ‘use it or lose it’ policy to bus routes in their area and want to encourage more senior citizens to return to bus travel and help to save their services.
I was pleased to catch the first number 10 bus back to Lympne when the service was reinstated but I remain concerned that further cuts might take place unless people carry on catching the bus!
John Wing, Ward Councillor for Hythe Rural, including Lympne
