Tories to cut Evening and Weekend Buses

The Conservative Executive of Surrey County Council have decided to withdraw large numbers of evening and weekend bus services right across Surrey with effect from September 2003. This was agreed at their meeting on the 10th of June.

Councillor Janet Maines, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council, said, "No consultation with Districts and Boroughs was undertaken before the Executive put forward these blanket cuts. The decision was taken purely on financial grounds and huge areas of Surrey will be left without any public transport in the evenings and weekends".

She added, "The Liberal Democrat group will press for proper consultation before any cuts are implemented."

Surrey County Council is currently carrying out a "Best Value Review for Passenger Transport", which will include an examination of the problems with the cost of evening and weekend bus services. The Lib Dems want the results of this made available before any changes in services are even considered.

Bus Services planned to be withdrawn include:

MONDAY TO SATURDAY EVENINGS

· Northdown service 16: 2205 hrs journey Guildford-Rydes Hill-Fairlands-Wood Street.

· Stagecoach service 18: Aldershot-Weybourne-Farnham-Wrecclesham-Bordon-Whitehill-Lindford-Headley-Grayshott-Hindhead-Haslemere.

· Stagecoach service 19: Haslemere-Woolmer Hill Estate-Hindhead-Beacon Hill-Churt (with certain journeys extending to Frensham, Lower Bourne, Farnham, Weybourne and Aldershot)

· Northdown service 32: Guildford-Shalford-Chilworth-Albury-Shere-Gomshall-Abinger Hammer-Wotton-Westcott-Dorking-Brockham-Strood Green-Betchworth-Reigate-Meadvale-East Surrey Hospital-Earlswood-Redhill.

· Legg's Travel service 41: Staines-Pooley Green-Egham-Englefield Green-Old Windsor-Windsor-Slough

· Stagecoach service 46: Guildford-Sunnydown-Compton-Binscombe-Farncombe-Godalming.

· Stagecoach service 71: Guildford-Farncombe-Godalming-Eashing Lane-Milford-Witley-Chiddingfold-Haslemere.

· Arriva service 93: Dorking-Goodwyns-North Holmwood-South Holmwood-Beare Green-Capel.

· Legg's Travel service 218: Staines-Laleham-Shepperton.

· Metrobus service 410: Redhill-Nutfield-Bletchingley-Godstone-Oxted.

· Metrobus service 420: Redhill-Reigate-Lower Kingswood-Tadworth-Banstead-Belmont-Sutton.

· Arriva service 436: Guildford-Burpham-Burnt Common-Ripley-Send Marsh-Send-Old Woking-Kingfield Green-Woking-Sheerwater.

· Metrobus service 460: Epsom-Tattenham Corner-Tadworth-Walton on the Hill

· Northdown service 489: Epsom-Ashtead-Leatherhead-Fetcham-Bookham (also journey at 1815 hrs from Guildford to Clandon, East Horsley, Bookham and Fetcham).

SUNDAYS & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

· Stagecoach service 17: Aldershot-Weybourne-Farnham-Wrecclesham-Shortheath-Rowledge

· Stagecoach services 18/19/71: As per Mondays to Saturdays.

· Thames Bus service 28: Woking-Horsell-Goldsworth Park-Knaphill-Brookwood-Pirbright-Worplesdon-Guildford.

· Memory Lanes Travel service 32: Guildford-Shalford-Chlworth-Albury-Shere-Gomshall-Abinger Hammer-Wotton-Westcott-Dorking

Also: Goodwyns-Dorking-Brockham-Strood Green.

· Thames Bus service 218: Staines-Laleham-Shepperton-Walton-Hersham

· Metrobus service 411: Redhill-Nutfield-Bletchingley-Godstone-Caterham Valley-Caterham on the Hill-Whyteleafe-Upper Warlingham Station-Warlingham Green-Farleigh-Great Park.

· Metrobus services 420/460: As per Mondays to Saturdays.

· Thames Bus service 442: Heathrow Airport-Staines-Pooley Green-Egham-Englefield Green-Old Windsor-Windsor.

· Thames Bus service 446: Staines-Chertsey-St. Peter's Hospital-Ottershaw-Coombelands-Addlestone-New Haw-West Byfleet-Sheerwater-Woking.

· Thames Bus service 456: Staines-Chertsey-Addlestone-Brooklands-Byfleet-West Byfleet-Sheerwater-Woking.

· Northdown service 461: Kingston-Hampton Court-West Molesey-Field Common-Ambleside Avenue-Walton-Weybridge-Addlestone-Coombelands-Ottershaw-St. Peter's Hospital.

· Northdown service 489: Epsom-Ashtead-Leatherhead-Fetcham-Bookham-Polesden Lacey-Effingham-East Horsley-Clandon-Merrow-Guildford.

· Northdown service 515: Kingston-Surbiton-Long Ditton-Thames Ditton-Lower Green-Esher-Cobham-Wisley-Ripley-Burnt Common-Burpham-Guildford.