Here’s the text of my letter to the Operations Director at Stagecoach Merseyside about the ‘review’ of their service through Barrow nook and up Hall Lane past Stockley Crescent. Usual anonymity courtesy for web publication, and self explanatory:
Dear xxxx
319 Service
I spoke yesterday with xxxxx, your Operations Manager, about the 319 service between St Helens and Southport. This was further to calls from local constituents in Bickerstaffe Ward, West Lancashire, concerned about news they were hearing of a possible cessation of the service. These calls were the first I had heard of the matter, even though we have previously been in contact over the 319 service e.g. during road closures.
xxxxx confirmed that a review was being undertaken over the next few weeks, and that cessation of the service is a possibility. He also kindly agreed to keep me informed of any developments as they occur.
The 319 Stategcoach service currently serves my consituents in the Barrow Nook, Hall Lane, Stockley Crescent, Heyescroft and Liverpool areas. Let me set out clearly my view that cessation of the service would be an absolute disaster for people in this area of Bickerstaffe. This service is the ‘lifeblood’ for a significant number of people in the area, including but not restricted to people living in the sheltered accommodation at Stockley Crescent.
Because of the service, many older people are able to get in and out of Ormskirk (or less frequently) St Helens to do their shopping; without it, it is difficult to see how some will be able to continue to live in the area. A taxi too and from Ormskirk, costing between £13 and £15 will be simply unaffordable.
While I understand that you must on occasion review your services in the light of commercial pressures/incentives, I would urge you to retain this vital service.
I understand, of course, that the need for a review may have come about because of the coming of an additional 319 service which goes directly up the Rainford by-pass (A570) without diverting around Barrow Nook and up past Stockley Crescent. This route, though, came about in part because of the demand on the Stagecoach 319 service and the fact that it was often very full by the time it reached Stockley Crescent. In these circumstances, I feel confident that the continuation of both services is warranted.
It may be that you may wish to look at reviewing the times of your services to meet demand from both this and other areas. Should you wish me to, I will be more than happy to use my position as local councillor to establish what may be the best ‘peak use’ times as far as my constituents are concerned. Please do just let me know if I can help in this way, or indeed in any other way to ensure that this vital service is maintained.
I look forward to hearing from you in due course, not least so that I can keep local residents informed on an issue which is clearly of great concern to many of them.
