Do you use the CANGO bus between Alresford and Basingstoke?

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7V7XNFK

Please use this link to a survey if you use the bus and need it to continue.

Simple questions – just answer online or if you know someone who doesn’t use a computer, please ask Jackie (tel 01962 791054) for a paper copy! Thank you

I have looked at the proposals for the timetable and have written the following to the Executive Member and HCC Officer concerned

I presume the need for school bus transport is because Perins has so many children from Basingstoke at the school now that they contract with bus companies to provide a school day service. But what about meeting up with friends in the holidays?

Could I come and see you about the Cango 41 service… please?
You obviously have the data for the adults (and possibly children?) who use the service- what is the necessary additional sum to restore it to a six day service please? Most users will have a free pass? Is this true?
What % are disabled, have a senior pass or are under 16?
Do you have any evidence that the tendered times will suit your current users well, and are not just for the convenience of the provider?
And have you canvassed the needs of those who book the service specifically to ensure this?

The CANGO scheme offers a really useful bus to Basingstoke, Alton and Alresford, but also places in between.
It gives access to health providers, social links, and cultural links too.It covers those who cannot drive through age or illness and provides/supports an activity for a period of time too.

Has HCC looked at alternatives? How different is the cost now to the new tenders? I don’t recall twice the current service costing twice as much?
How have you used the registered addresses of those who book regularly to find out their needs? In your email to me, it doesn’t include the other options, but there are several to consider.
Eg,
* a community bus link on the other days or
* linking to The Anvil (as Salisbury theatre does)
* specific bus routes and times to reach specific places (as Mervyn’s coaches do to get to Sainsburys once a week)
* reaching Basingstoke cinema and leisure centre, especially during school holidays
using booked taxi share
* seeking a contribution for Anvil, Health provider (HHT), local doctors’ practices (e.g. Alresford surgery, and others along the route) and local Borough Councils to continue this service as a daily one to prevent rural isolation for adults and children in the school holidays.

I would like HCC to investigate a number of alternatives which could be cheaper in the end and achieve more for residents.

Although there are just 20 using the service in one direction; to those 20 every day, this is a lifeline, either for work or health and wellbeing, including economic wellbeing.

The cost of using a conventional taxi in the countryside is prohibitive. This (cut in service) will create even more hospital journeys by expensive ambulance too I expect.
And increase rural isolation of children whose friends live elsewhere in the catchment area.

The short length of time you gave me to couch ideas from users (and indeed to find the users) and potential users makes it difficult to ensure the service is ‘the best that it can be’ for the rural community.
I would like to see that reflected in the paper (you are writing to update the Councillor making the decision).

You have the users names and addresses. Could I be party to these in general terms (e.g. dots on asap, with frequency etc) when we meet on Monday?I really want to see some sort of useful service, and the times shown don’t seem to achieve that.

The bus from Basingstoke to return to Alresford leaves just 5 minutes after it arrives or over two and a half hours later.
Do you have evidence that this what the users want?

In view of the number of jobs available in Basingstoke, compared to Alresford, and the keenness of the Job Centre to offer them, perhaps we should be dramatically improving this to an ‘on demand’ service rather than a booked one?

I look forward to hearing from you.
Jackie Porter