(Updated) Major Bus Changes In Coventry

Earlsdon schoolgirl fights changes to bus timetables in Coventry



A 12-year-old girl is waging war on Coventry’s controversial new bus timetable because it would make her journey to school twice as long.

Maddy Harper is angry that the number one service from Earlsdon to Toll Bar End is being axed from Sunday.

Under the new provisions Maddy, who attends Blue Coat School in Terry Road, Stoke, would have to catch an earlier bus in the morning, and then change at Pool Meadow in the city centre, resulting in a much longer journey.

Maddy, of Rochester Road, Earlsdon, has collected dozens of signatures for a petition which she hopes could force public transport officials into a rethink.

“At the moment I get up at 6.30am and catch the number one bus from Earlsdon Library which is about five minutes away,” she said.

“It takes about 30 minutes to get to school, it’s very convenient.

“I’m most upset because bits of it are being replaced.

“I would have to catch the number 19 from outside my house which means getting up considerably earlier, and then getting the number four from town, which is always late or full.

“This new journey will take about an hour.”

The number one service has been in existence since 1926, making it the oldest in the city, and links Chapelfields and Earlsdon to the south side of the city centre via London Road.

Maddy is being supported in her campaign by city councillor Allan Andrews (Con, Earlsdon).

Meanwhile several petitions have also been compiled against the removal of the 32, 33 and 34 routes.

They include a petition of 1,300 names collected in Woodlands, and signatures from members of the Sikh temple, in Harnall Lane, Foleshill.

The number 34 is the only direct service from Tile Hill and Eastern Green to University Hospital while the 32 and 33 cross city routes travel near to the hospital.

Passengers will still be able to catch a bus to the hospital, but will have to change at Pool Meadow first.

Coun Bally Singh (Lab, Whoberley) claimed pensioners and disabled people with appointments outside the range of their concessionary bus passes would therefore be forced into buying two tickets instead of one.

Centro said all city residents would remain “within 400 metres” of an alternative service, but insisted any concerns would be taken on board.

A spokesman said: “Nothing is ever set in stone.

“As and when we see areas of fine-tuning, we are always happy to look at that.

“We would take a look at residents’ concerns.”

Exhibitions about the new timetable are being held across the city.

Buses in Coventry are useless. I looked at getting one to work once by bus, and it would take over an hour to get there, involve 1 change, and require two 15 minute walks!

I often wonder how they devise bus routes? For example there's no direct bus route between here and Morrison's. It involves taking a journey in the wrong direction then crossing a busy road to take another bus headng in the right direction which then stops on the wrong side of another busy road. The return journey is even more convoluted. Most people who live around here take a taxi which is not much more expensive than a bus these days and far more convenient.

Residents in Finham angry over changes to bus route


Bob Fryer with Charlie Vaughan, Brian Thompson, Elaine Barker and Coun John Blundell

Changes to a bus route in Finham have been dubbed “ludicrous” by residents – who will be left facing a return journey which will be twice as long.

People living in Finham were shocked at the new plans for the number 9 service, which will mean a direct bus will only run one way from Green Lane to St Martins Road.

The return bus will take passengers via Leamington Road and into the city centre before they can get back to Green Lane.

Residents say the only way of avoiding the longer route is to stop off at Erithway Road, in Finham, and walk 250 yards to get a connecting bus, in Kenpas Highway.

Brian Thompson, aged 82, of Green Lane, said getting two buses will make life more difficult for elderly residents and would mean having to pay two bus fares.

He said: “There are elderly residents who live in Brentwood Avenue and can’t walk more than a few yards.

"They won’t be able to walk to 250 yards. They will be put in an impossible situation.

Elaine Barker, aged 68, of Green Lane, said: “One woman who lives nearby has poor eyesight and had to give up her car – she was left to rely on the buses to get her to the shops in Green Lane and back again but she is put off from going at all because it will take her twice as long.

"It’s ludicrous.

"People who suffer from mobility problems and illnesses will feel imprisoned in their homes.”

Coun John Blundell (Con, Wainbody) is looking to call a meeting with regional Centro manager Steve Hayes to discuss residents’ concerns.

He said: “It will certainly take a lot more time and cost passengers more because they will be paying for two bus fares to get back home.

“This is an issue felt strongly by many residents who will be inconvenienced by the changes to the route.

"We hope to meet with Centro in March with the aim of changing the return route.”

In an email sent to Coun Blundell, Mr Hayes said: “Once the routes have been operating a few weeks we will assess the reliability with National Express and can explore how Green Lane could be served in both directions.

“Until the route is running and picking up passengers it’s difficult to assess accurately how long the end-to-end journey time will be. Invariably routes require ‘tweaking’ once they have been operating a while.

“I can commit that Centro will continue to work with operators and local groups to ensure routes meet local needs where possible.”

"Centro The Tweakers"

In theory, I should be happy with the No 5 replacing the 19 in Earlsdon as it goes to the Ricoh and there's a stop near to my brother's house in Holbrooks ... I then looked at the timetable and it seems to only go to these locations for a limited time each day.

Am disappointed the No 1 has been axed - very hand for London Road Cemetery and Asda at Whitley.

I was told the florist at Pool Meadow is not happy about the 19 being axed as many people would buy flowers from him to remember loved ones at Canley Crem.

I gave up on the 19 myself when the minimum fare was raised from 80p. Frankly, I can walk the short distance to the top of Earlsdon in the time it takes for a bus to arrive at the bottom of Albany Road and it's simply not worth paying over a pound just to lighten the journey. I know regular commutors can buy a discount ticket but I'm the kind of casual user they need if they are to fill the buses during off-peak hours.

On reading that Centro had previously had meetings with the population in Coventry re these changes, I am totally amazed from the comments on the board & local reports from bus users, that this shambles ensues but there again this is probably down to some "intelligent" suits in the back office

MP adds voice to the campaign against Coventry bus changes

A COVENTRY MP has added his weight to protests over sweeping changes to the city’s bus timetables and scrapping some services.

Jim Cunningham says he has been contacted by many constituents complaining about the changes launched this week.

He is calling on bosses from passenger transport authority Centro to re-examine them.

It came as Coventry city councillor Dave Nellist (Socialist), whose St Michael’s ward covers the city centre, said slashing services had partly resulted from a 20 per cent government funding cut for subsidised bus services.

Mr Cunningham said: “As well as using the bus service myself, I have been contacted by residents and community organisations expressing dissatisfaction with both the process and the proposals.

“I have raised the issue of cleanliness on the buses, the frequency of services and constituents’ concerns that they are not listened to.

“I am very worried about doing away with the 34 bus service which is a lifeline to the hospital for my constituents travelling right across the city from Tile Hill.

“The idea they now have to get two buses at twice the cost and increasing travel time is totally unacceptable and I have made that clear to Centro.

“This bus was part of the agreement for the new hospital, so to hear from Centro that University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Trust have not increased their subsidy to help maintain the service is worrying.

“I also raised the subject of changed services in Finham and Willenhall, areas on the outskirts of the city more vulnerable to changes because of the distance people have to travel, particularly if they have to go through the city centre – which it appears all buses in Coventry now seem to do. We also need to see the frequency of buses increased in areas such as Cheylesmore.

“Centro have agreed to come back to me and put in writing the concerns I have raised with them.”

Mark Kipling, area operations director for National Express Coventry, says the changes follow its joint public consultation with Centro last year, including public exhibitions, and were a response to customers’ requests for “simpler, more frequent and easier to understand services, running later into the evening”.

He cited services 21, 13 and the new 16 as becoming more frequent. They included a bus through the congested Ball Hill every four minutes, and a number 13 service every 10 minutes along Binley Road to 16/A and 801 connections to the hospital from Brandon Road.

Alternatively, passengers could connect in the city centre onto a 9/9A for the hospital.

But passengers have also complained about “cuts” to the number 1 service; and the 30A and 30C buses becoming a single number 30 hourly service, ending at 5.30pm.

Some have protested it presents difficulties for the elderly wanting to shop at Tesco at Arena Park or visit the hospital.

People living in Finham have complained about change to the number 9 service.

Bell Green residents' fury over bus review

CAMPAIGNERS are preparing a petition against the biggest shake-up of Coventry’s bus service in decades.

Those living in Dudley Street, Bell Green, plan to turn up at a surgery held by the deputy leader of Coventry City Council on Saturday.

It comes after a review of routes in the city came in to force last month. It has affected 27 services across 150 routes.

Coun George Duggins is expected to be served with a petition of around 100 signatures from residents against the changes at Bell Green Community Centre, Old Church Road, at 12pm.

Organiser Baj Panesar, aged 44, of Dudley Road, said: “With all the changes, 60 buses are going to go through Dudley Road. This is a quiet road.”