Don’t axe bus route

3:15pm Monday 16th June 2008

I READ with horror that First Bus are thinking of taking the Alexandra Hospital off the route of the 57/58 bus in the town.

This is the busiest route in the area, and it must be obvious that a great many people will use it to get to and from the hospital; and also as an interchange of bus routes.

I use it myself as a hospital volunteer and, of course, to get to and from appointments, visiting, etc.

It is quite a long walk from the Studley Road island to the doors of the hospital - and would be beyond elderly people suffering health or mobility problems or, indeed, people of any age.

Even those who drive often prefer to use the bus rather than try to find a space on the crowded car park.

If the company wishes to save money, as it claims, surely the best thing to do is to use only single-deckers on this route, instead of the double-deckers which must cost more to run - and I've never yet seen one which was full, or anywhere near it!

I think it is about time this company realised that a bus company should be running a service, for the benefit of the community; that goodwill is a valuable commodity; and that it should think again.

Margaret Smith

Transport Lead

Redditch Older People's Forum