For consideration by the OCG
D&G Bus Service No 250
I note that the minutes of the January meeting refer to the 250 bus no longer using Rock Crescent.
The original request for the bus to use Rock Crescent was made by someone who had temporarily lost the use of their car but by the time the route was changed the car was back on the road.
The 9 O’clock bus in particular suffered considerable inconvenience due to inconsiderate parking by the school traffic.
Now one of the bus drivers has recently told us that the bus company is seriously considering removing the service altogether due to continued aggravation.
The latest complaint seems to be an accusation that the bus is driving on the grass verge at the bottom end of Church Lane and churning it up.
I agree it does look unsightly and will need attention before the 2010 BKV competition.
However if a vehicle is parked opposite the verges (as is the case most days) then other vehicles, buses, lorries, vans and sometimes cars, have no choice but to go onto the verges to get past.
For example on Monday 29th March there were three cars parked by the hedges, one right opposite the bus shelter. There was also a blue van parked on the grass verge all morning (presumably anyone there by invitation is ok to park on the grass).
I would make the following points:-
1. At least a dozen villagers make use of the bus (not everyone has a car for each member of the family).
2. When the car is unavailable then the bus is very useful.
3. Being a bus route Church Lane and Oulton Road are gritted automatically in the winter.
4. It would be sad to lose yet another service in the village.
5. It is not just the bus which is damaging the verge
The bus needs somewhere to park if it is early and needs to be able to get up Church Lane.
One answer would be to widen Church Lane a few feet by the bus shelter.
Is this something that the OCG should be getting involved in and using its influence to obtain a satisfactory solution?
