Liz hands over No. 69 bus cuts petition

9.54.45pm GMT Mon 26th Nov 2007

MEMBERS of the public joined Liz Leffman, prospective Liberal Democrat MP for Meon Valley, on November 22 when she handed over her petition calling for a rethink from Hampshire County Council on the decision to slash the number 69 Winchester/Bishops Waltham/Fareham bus service.

Liz and her team joined forces with campaigners fighting to save the Romsey/Winchester rail link service at the County Council's head offices.

"Hundreds of people have signed my petition and I sincerely hope that it will now lead to a U-turn from the council," Liz said.

The last bus on the route from Winchester on weekdays and Saturdays now leaves at 18:50 and from Fareham at 19.05, while the Sunday service is down to one bus every three hours. This has severely affected the daily lives of many shoppers, workers and college students who use the bus to return home in the evening.

Liz added: "I am pleased to have been joined by various campaigners at the hand-in, such as students of Peter Symonds College, as many of them are seriously harmed by these changes. Hundreds of students use the bus to get to college and back again every day. Now, if they want to stay on at college in the evening, they have to rely on lifts from family and friends.

"This is damaging not only to the independence of these young people and the freedom of their parents, but also to the environment through forcing extra vehicles on the road.

"Hampshire County Council has disregarded the needs of people living in the villages served by this service, while Winchester City Council, which could have subsidised this service, has turned its backs on people in the Southern Parishes.

"The County Council ignored protests from Lib Dem county councillors and Winchester City Council has refused to follow the example set by Lib Dem-led Eastleigh Borough Council and subsidise local services themselves. This demonstrates a lack of understanding for the needs of the general public, especially in rural areas."