BORDON residents who will be left without a bus when the 221 local service stops on Monday will be eligible for a subsidised replacement taxi service. A decision was made by Hampshire County Council in November to axe the unprofitable 221 at the end of this week and stretch the 18 service to cover part of its route, leaving passengers in a dozen streets stranded. In an effort to minimise the impact on people, HCC has announced a deal with local taxi firm Newcabs Bordon to provide reduced-fare journeys to three locations in the town centre between Monday and Saturday. Under the rules of the scheme, those who want to use the new "taxishare" service will be eligible only if they live in the affected streets to avoid "taking business away from the 18 service". In Bordon, these are Ladysmith Place, Coniston Road, Windemere Road, Ullswater Close, Oakley Road and Beaufort Road. In Whitehill, the taxishare will cover Atholl Road, Forest Road, South Hurst, Overdale Walk, Overdale Place, Alpine Road and Monument Chase. In another bid to guarantee passenger numbers, the once-a-week 73 service between Bordon and Petersfield will be moved to a Wednesday from next week to coincide with Petersfield market and attract more shoppers. Businesses in Bordon are also being safeguarded through the introduction of a new minibus service on a Thursday to replace the old 73, which will bring shoppers from Liss, Greatham and Blackmoor into the town centre. Both the taxishare and the village minibus services are being subsidised by the county council to bring the cost down to the same level as the previous bus fare. But pensioners could be hit in the pocket as neither mode of transport will accept Farepass cards, allowing them free travel. The Herald was told this decision was taken because the new facilities "are not buses". After pre-registering (for free) with the council's community transport team, taxishare users will need to book each individual journey with the cab company at least 12 hours ahead of their journey. They can choose to be picked up from their door at 9-15 am, 10-15 am, 11-15 am or 4- 30 pm and dropped there again at 10-30 am, 11-30 am, 12-30 pm or 6 pm. Journeys made by taxi outside these hours or on a Sunday will not fall within the scheme, meaning passengers will have to pay the full fare. There will be three destinations for taxis trips under the scheme, to the Forest Community Centre, Tesco in the High Street and Chase Hospital. HCC Community Transport officer Lisa Cook said that the taxishare's operating days were the same as the 221 bus, while its operating hours where only slightly shorter. She explained that the choice of destinations was based on the results of research showing the majority of local bus users travel to do shopping or for health reasons. She added: "We hope the taxishare will be a permanent fixture, but this depends on the outcome of regular reviews of the service and user numbers. "We will also be in constant contact with the taxi firm, who will pass on any feedback their drivers receive from customers. "The timetable is not set in stone, and we are open to other suggestions, but based on survey data these are the most popular times for bus users. "Also, if mobility impaired people from other parts of the town who cannot access the 18 bus get in touch with us, we will consider offering the taxishare service to them on a needs-based assessment." To register as a taxishare user, call the county council's Community Transport team on 01962 846785. The minibus service into Bordon replacing the 73 on Thursdays will also drop passengers off at The Forest Community Centre, Tesco or Chase Hospital. The service will run every Thursday, picking up around 9-30 am and returning around 11- 30 am. Again, users will have to ring and book a place on the minibus. To find out more about the minibus service call Hampshire County Council's travel centre on 0845 602 4135 between 8 am and 4-30 pm Monday to Saturday. County and town councillor for Whitehill, Bordon and Lindford, Adam Carew, said: "Clearly we are far from happy about losing the 221 but the re-routed 18 and taxishare we have negotiated with HCC is better than losing it altogether. "The move of the 73 to Wednesday is to be welcomed as it will enable people from Bordon and Whitehill to get to Petersfield for market days. This is something Whitehill Town Council has been pushing for for some time. "The Liss-to-Bordon shopper is to be welcomed as well because it means people can get here from surrounding villages and trade here should not be adversely affected."
