23/08/10….Protests continue over 280 bus route changes

BUS users in Haddenham, near Thame, are continuing to protest at changes to the route of the Arriva 280 bus through the village.

The Haddenham Safe Walking and Cycling Group (SW&CG) has, on behalf of the Parish Council, requested a meeting with Arriva to discuss the changes. Also, a number of villagers have been collecting signatures for a petition complaining about the changes to the bus route (copies to sign available at McColl?s, Banks Parade, or Parminter?s, Church End) and SW&CG plans to present petitions to Arriva when they, hopefully, meet with bus company representatives.

The SW&CG have said that anyone else with a petition can hand it in at the Parish Office (open Tuesday and Thursday mornings until 11.30am) or deliver it to Dormer Cottage, Flint Street, by the end of August.

Anyone wishing to send comments direct to Arriva should write to Arriva Customer Services, FREEPOST ANG 7624, Luton, Bedfordshire LU4 8BR or stevemacdonald@arriva-shires.com.

According to a letter from the Traffic Commissioner, bus companies are required to register new or amended services with the Commissioner who then: “..expects the service to be run efficiently, reliably and in accordance with the registered particulars. Once the service has been registered, however, any changes must be notified to the Commissioner 56 days before the proposed revision is due to take effect.

“The Traffic Commissioner has no powers to require an operator to operate a particular route or to impose a particular pattern of operation,” the letter concludes.

The County Council?s role is limited to approval for the siting of bus stops and they say that, as service 280 is a commercial service operated by Arriva, it is Arriva who make decisions on any change of route or timetable and they do not need the agreement of Bucks County Council. However, the Traffic Commissioner writes: “? local authorities have a responsibility for issuing tenders on a subsidised basis if the transport needs of local residents are not being met,” so villagers are being invited to put this point in writing to John Bass, Senior Passenger Transport Officer, Transport for Buckinghamshire, Bucks County Council, County Hall, Walton Street, Aylesbury HP20 1UY JBASS@buckscc.gov.uk