Information From Suffolk County Council 14 August 2024
Following assorted recent correspondence, please see the attached timetable we have agreed with Simonds to operate from 2nd September up to Christmas and statement below. 73 Bus timetable 02_09_2024
Councillor Chris Chambers, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for transport strategy, planning and waste, said:
“Commercially run bus services can only run when there are people using these services. Other than home to school travel for entitled students, there is no legal requirement for councils to provide bus services, and we have no powers to prevent operators making such decisions.
“However, we recognise that some people in rural communities rely on these services so they can get from A to B and we encourage sustainable travel where possible, so we have listened to the feedback and are working with Simonds, the operator to find alternatives.
“I have instructed officers to use the last of our Bus Recovery funding from the Department for Transport to enhance the service proposed by Simonds to replace the 337/338 routes. The new 73 service will operate the attached timetable until 27 December, this will mean most current journeys will continue whilst we look at ways of future-proofing these rural services.
“I urge all residents to use the bus service as the county council cannot sustain routes which make a loss.”
Please note that although not shown on the draft timetable, this service will be calling at Shepherd’s Grove, Stanton and West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmunds.
As per other correspondence, this interim period should be used to gather evidence and feedback on what services are really needed and submit this as part of a BSIP funding bid through our online portal at Bus Service Improvement Plan – service funding – Suffolkonboard
Thank you,
Simon Barnett
Integrated Transport & Enhanced Partnership Manager
Passenger Transport
Suffolk County Council
Endeavour House
8 Russell Road
Ipswich
IP1 2BX
01473 265045