Uproar over threatened Lambourn bus cuts

Meeting is packed out

PROPOSED cuts to rural bus services caused a public outcry at a public meeting in Lambourn.

The first villagers began queuing half an hour before the doors opened and eventually around 100 people jammed into the village’s Memorial Hall with many standing at the back and some spilling out on to the street.

There were emotive pleas to maintain what many see as a vital ‘social service’ – but district councillors urged all present to participate in the forthcoming consultation.

As part of its overall budget cuts, West Berkshire Council proposes to reduce its annual £1.4m subsidy to public transport operators by £320,000 next year.

Services have been ranked based on the cost to the council per passenger trip, with the most expensive being targeted for savings.

The district council says its analysis suggests that the Number 90 Hungerford to Lambourn service should be withdrawn entirely.

The Number 4 service between Newbury and Lambourn is also likely to be severely affected.

In addition, the district council subsidises several services with extra funding from neighbouring authorities, town or parish councils including the Number 90 Lambourn to Swindon service.

At the meeting, the deputy leader of West Berkshire Council, Graham Jones (Con, Lambourn Valley) said: “The consultation is based on what is, hopefully, a pessimistic view of West Berkshire Council’s finances. We’ve seen in the news the sort of cuts local authorities have to make.

“But, hand on heart, I don’t expect we’ll be successful on every service.

“So we need to get the best compromise for the Lambourn Valley that we can.”

For example, Mr Jones suggested the service linking the village to Newbury was one that was demonstrably “vital to many people”.

Rachel Carden pointed out that the district council had a statutory duty to maintain services for the elderly and added: “We need these services to maintain a vibrant economy.”

But Gordon Lundie (Con, Lambourn Valley) replied: “Quoting statute back to us isn’t going to advance the discussion.

“None of the things we’re talking about are luxuries. Protecting children, the elderly, keeping roads up to scratch – we have to make some hard choices.”

Regular bus user Jim Samson told the meeting: “The Number 82 runs once a week for half a day and regularly has 30 to 40 passengers, whose average age is 70 plus.

“It’s more than a bus service, it’s almost a social service.

“For some people it’s their only chance to get out of the house for a few hours, to do some shopping or meet some friends. The social good that bus does is tremendous. Without such services older people will just rot away indoors.”

Graham Jones replied: “I agree and, hopefully, that once-a-week service we can keep.”

An elderly lady expressed concern about how she would visit her optician in Newbury if the bus service was scrapped, while others told of needing a bus service to visit disabled relatives.

One man suggested: “Why don’t we raise the parish council precept and spend local money to benefit the local community?”

But West Berkshire Council’s senior transport services officer, Matthew Metcalfe, replied: “When we put fares up it puts customers off. We try to keep fares as low as possible.”

That led to jeers from some, and one villager said: “So, you keep fares low but have no buses – what a great business model.”

Others asked why the district council did not use some of its financial reserves to continue to subsidise the threatened services.

Mr Lundie explained: “Twelve years ago there was £30m in reserve. Now it’s £5m. We need to keep that back to help balance the books in case of emergency.”

You can participate in the consultation by explaining how the proposals could affect you and the wider community online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/32XLSVR

Consultation forms are also available at Lambourn Pharmacy in the Broadway.

Parish council chairman Mike Billinge-Jones acknowledged the “overwhelming” public response at the meeting

He joined Mr Jones and Mr Lundie in stressing the need for villagers to participate in the consultation process and to highlight any personal hardship that service cuts could cause.

The results of the consultation will be considered at a full meeting of West Berkshire Council on March 1 next year.