Westham Focus

We are delighted to announce that Cllr David Harris has managed to get a reprieve for the Number 3 bus. We have three months to try and convince First Bus that there is a viable NEW route. We have supported a young lady who put together a huge petition to save this bus and would like to thank her for all her hard work and thank the residents who supported her petition. The number 3 is losing money: on an ordinary day at the end of April, in the whole day, it took a total of £59.50 in fares, with 26 paying customers and 63 bus pass customers. David arranged a meeting with First Bus to consider how a viable service could be configured and to consider taking it through Southill which will make it an option for a further 2000 residents. First Bus have agreed that the following can be tried: ● The bus will turn right instead of left at the top of Hereford Road and get to town via the football ground, into Southill before going back to the Abbotsbury Road/ Newstead crossroads and then into town. ● The limited times are because it uses a school bus which makes it more viable. Residents in Cobham Drive should gather in Radipole Lane on the football ground side of their exit, so do not have to cross the road, and stick out their hands as if it is a request stop. Residents on the way to Fiveways can either catch the 8 or 83 in Chickerell Road or go to Cobham Drive. ● Some people with passes have also said that they are prepared to pay a little towards the fare if this helps save it. The easiest way to do this is not to use the pass on every fourth trip and just pay the normal fare. The Lib Dems will continue to lobby Government to pay the full amount for concessionary fares; we need more buses not less and bus passes are making bus routes unviable. ● A small change is that the new bus will go to the King’s statue on the seafront rather than Commercial Road which makes it easier to get to Dorchester or Portland as it will link up with the 10 and 1 here. The bus company will keep in touch with your councillors and give us warning if we are not meeting targets, but if we can really use it they will be willing to see about improving it, with possibly a bus for those working in town before and after the school run, and we could also see if there is demand for a Saturday service. We have to show that we really do want it.