Have you been impacted by changes to your bus services? This has affected a number of Suffolk villages with proposals which reduced bus services or in some villages cancelled them completely. When Vectare, the new owner of Simonds buses took steps to cancel loss making routes some villages, such as Bardwell, were suddenly without any bus service.

Fortunately, Joanna Spicer our county councillor has helped to secure funding from Suffolk County Council so that there is a temporary solution for a reduced service on previously cancelled routes. However, this only extends until 27th December.

A group of villages have formed a task force to try to save these rural bus services which are a vital link for our rural communities. Cllr Joanna Spicer is sponsoring this and Karen Witton, vice chair of Bardwell Parish Council is chairing the team. The first meeting was held on 9th September when members of the group agreed a proactive campaign seeking to achieve a long-term solution for sustainable rural bus services. Without such services some employees may no longer be able to get to work, children will struggle to get to school and college and people will lose the connections to towns and other villages. Undoubtedly footfall in Bury St Edmunds will decline, adversely impacting local shops and businesses.

This task force, representing the villages of Bardwell, Barningham, Coney Weston, Hepworth, Hopton, Market Weston and Shepherds Grove Park, Stanton, are keen to work with businesses, charities, Vectare (Simonds), Suffolk County Council and other interested parties, to seek solutions to maintain these vital rural services.

The task force can be contacted via Bardwell Parish Council on a designated email address: saveourbuses@bardwell-pc.gov.uk