Off to the launch of the new Accelerate service for community-run transport initiatives on 9 June at Devizes Town Hall. I’m going to to see how Transition Marlborough can get its mitts on money to run a bus service in Marlborough as well as the support on offer.
More info here: http://wiltshirecommunitytransport.org.uk/services/news.html
Transition Marlborough and Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group and I met with Ian White (Wiltshire Council head of transport), Phil Groocock (head of timetabling), Cllr Richard Gamble (portfolio holder for transport), Andrew Jack (Marlborough community area manager) and Marlborough deputy mayor Guy Loosemore to talk about buses, cuts and the link to the bus station.
So, quite a turn out, very nice to see the ‘big-wigs’ (which makes us feel valued) and props to Sam (transition) and Steve (BTPG) for organising it.
Sam’s prepared a report on the local bus service (which she’s presenting to Marlborough Area Board 29 May) and Steve’s gone through the proposed bus cuts with a big red pen. So glad the pair of you are on the case.
If I’ve got my sums right, Wiltshire Council are hovering their scissors over the Marlborough-Bedwyn bus-train linking service, thinking they can make an £80K cut which no one will much mind. That’s 31% of the £260,000 they are looking to save on public transport county-wide. Yes, that’s right. Even though we’ve got the second highest car parking fees in the country AND Wiltshire Council has gone on record to justify it by saying it is used to invest in public transport, Marlborough is going to have the biggest cut to public transport out of the whole county. Read the rest of this entry »
At the next Marlborough Area Board meeting, the councillors will be deciding whether to grant £8,300 towards £8,300 towards funding individual workshops with parish working groups and Hamilton-Baillie Associates.
The aim is to producing individual traffic and transport plans for each village.
Please go along and voice your support of this worthwhile project, 7pm Tuesday 27 March, Marlborough Town Hall.
http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council/areaboards/marlboroughareaboard.htm
Also, check out Ben Hamilton-Baillie’s slideshow at:
http://www.hamilton-baillie.co.uk/index.php?do=projects&sub=details&pid=135
I never really thought that hard about my general sense of disapointment when visiting rural English villages. Unless you travel to the back of beyond and find a somewhere secluded and quiet still lucky enough to have a pub, village shop and church, our villages feel like some of their essential character is lost.
I found out why yesterday, thanks to Ben Hamilton-Baillie at the inspirational seminar, Traffic Planning for Rural Villages.
It’s all down to the roads. And it’s all about the roads. Read the rest of this entry »
Better late than never…here are the overall results of the Bedwyn Commuter survey we (Transition Marlborough) did in November last year. Interestingly it looks like 10% of Bedwyn train users come from a place with a train station…Bedwyn Commuter survey 23.1.11
Came across these guys today at the Swindon Business Show, seemed relevant – might be an alternative if the buses aren’t possible (positive thinking Louisa!)
The Transition Town Transport hub are doing a survey of bus passengers on Feb 9th (tbc) in Marlborough to support their trial into running a direct Bedwyn station connection minibus from Marlborough to meet the first train to London and the 7.30 trains on the return.
If you would like to help or have any thoughts – or know anyone else – let me know.
http://www.transitionmarlborough.org/Transport+homepage
Looks like the parish council has put forward a parking plan that will hopefully keep everyone happy, and most importantly the residents of The Knapp in Great Bedwyn who’ve had to put up with epic proportions of parked vehicles around their streets (see earlier posts).
Well done for sticking in there!
What’s that all about?
Train travel has just become more popular than ever so the train companies are trying to price their customers out of the market rather than increasing stock and reliablity so more passengers use it. How is that a good business model or a responsible one?
Trains are not a luxury. They are not there to just make money. They are crucial method of public transport that also takes the strain off the environment.
Rant over…
See www.farefail.org
PS Happy new year!
Better Bedwyn Buses 