Petition to keep bus service presented to Travel West Midlands

4.36.53pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 29th Nov 2006

Springvale councillors about to present the petition

SpringVale Ward Councillors Whitehouse, Heap and Gwinnett today met with Alan Perry, Travel West Midlands Director and Black Country bus routes planner, to discuss the pending loss of the 223 bus service on Farrington Road, Ettingshall Park. The SpringVale Councillors presented a petition of 129 signatures for a service along Farrington Road and put a number of alternatives to the Director. Councillor Whitehouse also outlined the special needs of the many elderly or disabled residents in this area particularly in light of the new restrictions on the Ring and Ride service which do not allow users to travel across the City boundary to Sedgley. Farrington Road is also highlighted as a very hilly road which also adds to mobility problems of local people.

A study of residents living in Farrington Road found that there were 58 people in the 70 - 90 age bracket and 32 people in 60 - 70 age range, of whom 32 people suffered with either heart, angina, or bypass problems, 22 people suffered arthritis, diabetes, or asthma, 15 were disabled, and 10 were suffering some form of cancer. The loss of the 223 service and the new restrictions to the Ring and Ride service impacts on these residents far harder than the able-bodied population as a whole. The three SpringVale Ward Councillors stated they were "not going to take this lying down and they would fight it all the way".

Mr Perry appeared sympathetic to the proposals for another re-directed service but said Travel West Midlands would need to investigate the proposals before coming to a decision. A decision would be made in the New Year.