Just when you thought it was safe to get back
on the bus, Ipswich is facing another battle between the area’s two
largest transport companies.
After failing to persuade passengers in the
south east of Ipswich to abandon the council-owned bus company, First
Group is now preparing to lure customers in the south west of the town
on to their vehicles.
First Group – which is based in Aberdeen and has
its regional office in Norwich – decided to try running buses across
south east Ipswich last year.
However the locally-based Ipswich Buses reacted,
and managed to hang on to most of its passengers in the face of the new
competition.
Now First has given notice that it plans to
withdraw most of its services in south east Ipswich on November 17 – but
from that day it plans to introduce new services in Chantry, following
similar routes to those already served by Ipswich Buses.
It is also preparing to withdraw its Service 87 which links Stowupland and Stowmarket with Ipswich.
The move was attacked by Ipswich council leader David Ellesmere, who represents south west Ipswich on the borough.
He said: “First caused problems in south east
Ipswich and now they are doing the same in another part of the town –
meanwhile they are withdrawing badly-needed services in the rural parts
of the county, making it more difficult for people to get into the
town.”
“I would urge people in the Chantry area to ignore the
First Buses and stick with the company that has always given them a good
service there.”
A spokeswoman for First said: “Following a review of our Ipswich Network, changes have been registered to start on 17 November.
“It’s with regret that we have withdrawn services
56, 70 and 87 due to low passenger demand, however we have increased
service 55 to every 20 minutes and introduced a new 10minute service 53
linking the town centre with Chantry and Brookwood.
“We are currently working with Suffolk County Council to provide a long-term, sustainable replacement to service 87.”
Conservative County Councillor Dr Alan Murray led
calls for changes to bus services after First Group changed some long
established routes in the Bixley area.
He said: “I’m disappointed one operator has
withdrawn, but I hope Ipswich Buses will continue to run a good service
in the area.”
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