As a non driver, I know that local Buses are vital and that without them, workers would not be able to get to work, young people wouldn’t get to school and college, and some of the most vulnerable people in society would become isolated from friends and family.
Derbyshire County Council are currently consulting on the way they provide local bus and community transport services so that we can deliver them in the best possible way to support people getting out and about within the counties limited budget.
The County Council are having to do this because of cuts in government funding that means they need to make cuts of £157 m by 2018
However before they make any decisions about reducing or withdrawing services they want you to tell them about the journeys you make and what the impact would be on you if changes to these services were made.
The bus user survey can be completed online (opens in a new window)or you can pick up a copy of the consultation questionnaire from any Derbyshire library or Glossop Municipal Buildings.
The closing date for responses is 14 December 2014.
Feedback from this survey will then be used to develop proposals for how transport, funded by Derbyshire County Council, could run in the future.
These proposals will then go out to full consultation in 2015
What else can you do ?
The Campaign for Better Transport runs a national “Save Our Buses” campaign.
The Save Our Buses campaign stands up for treasured local buses and defends them from damaging funding cuts. Routes and services across England and Wales are being lost and if we don’t make a stand now, it will be too late.
You can sign up on Facebook :
https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurBusesUK
Or via their website which has a host of useful information including a email your MP option :
http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/save-our-buses
Bus Users UK
Bus Users UK is a non-profit organisation which works on behalf of all bus users to ensure that operators meet your needs. They act as the voice of passengers.
You can sign up to their bus priority campaign, along with view tips on making the most of local buses.
http://bususers.org/get-involved/what-you-can-do/