Busy bus routes are axed

by LIN JENKINS

Last updated at 22:06 24 February 2007


A bus company has sparked fury by axing two popular routes because they are used by too many pensioners with free passes.

Executives claim the services are unprofitable, despite the firm getting large annual sums of ratepayers' money to subsidise the free elderly and disabled travellers.

Southdown PSV - which operates in Kent, Surrey and Sussex - will shut the routes next month after just one year of a four-year agreement, leaving several villages without public transport.

Surrey County Council's transport department explained the closure decision by saying: "The revenue expectations on these services is much lower than was anticipated by Southdown when they tendered for the services in spring 2006.

"Some of the problems relate to the introduction of the free fares for senior citizens and people with disabilities. The proportion of the total passengers now travelling free being far greater than originally estimated."

Now councillors and residents have started a petition to try to save the 409 service from Croydon to East Grinstead, Sussex, and the 411 from Tatsfield, Surrey, to Redhill.

Hilary Turner, a district councillor in Caterham, Surrey, where the bus routes overlap, said: "It is a scandal that this can happen.

"It will be an absolute disaster if these routes cease. People who don't have a car will be stranded at home, unless they can pay for a taxi.

"The letter from the county council says it is because of all these old people travelling. It is ridiculous. That should not be a reason for not running a bus service."

Gordon Keymer, of Tandridge district council, said: "We believe the services are vital.

"The district council pays £500,000 a year to Surrey County Council to provide free travel for pass-holders, so I don't know why the bus company says that they have the wrong type of passengers."

Campaigners point out the buses are not some minor service in a remote rural place but in the densely populated area straddling the southern section of the M25.

Joan Harding, 76, who uses both routes from her home in Godstone, Surrey, to shop at Caterham and Redhill, said: "The Government says you should use public transport but you have to have it to do it.

"There is only one little shop in my village, so I shall have to get my husband to drive me. But he hates shopping and normally drops me off to find my own way home."

Southdown PSV said: "The revenue is not coming up to our expectation."

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