ROUTES are being cut on a special bright yellow bus service that runs in the Alton area. Cango bosses have decided to reduce the number of vehicles running in parts of East Hampshire, Basingstoke and Hart from three to two in an attempt to cut ticket prices and keep the service on the road longer. It means that the C40 commuter service from Four Marks to Alton Railway Station will be axed and the C44, which runs from Alton to the Froyle and Binsted areas, will be reduced from five daily services to three, with an afternoon service on a Saturday only. And the C41 and C42 will no longer stop at Basingstoke Hospital and its timetable for services in and out of Alton from the Candovers and Basingstoke will be changed with some journeys out of Basingstoke terminating at Alresford. June Armstrong, a member of Hampshire Passenger Transport's team, said the changes were made after an annual review and evaluation of the services in December 2005. She said: "A clear pattern of patronage was evident throughout the areas and in an effort to try to ensure the longer term sustainability of the service while it is still receiving funding, it is proposed to streamline the service down from a three vehicle operation to two vehicles. This will reduce the contract price and therefore the subsidy per passenger trip. "This will affect the passengers in East Hampshire as the C40 commuter service from Four Marks to Alton Railway Station will cease. Despite a door-to-door leaflet drop and publicity at the station, we have been unable to build patronage on the service. "Three passengers currently travel daily, two of whom are husband and wife. These services are expensive as they extend the working day of both a vehicle and driver in the morning and evening. "There are currently five C44 services a day operating between Alton and the Froyle/ Binsted area. Patronage figures show that people are travelling into Alton in the morning between 9 am and 10 am returning on the 12- 41 pm. There is little or no evidence of use in the afternoon except occasionally on a Saturday. "It is therefore proposed to reduce the service in this area to three journeys at 9-15 am, 10- 45 am and 12-55 pm thus ensuring that current journey patterns can be maintained. There is currently no intention to operate an afternoon service except on a Saturday when there will be a 3 pm service. "C41, C42 - the times of services in and out of Alton and the Candovers and Basingstoke will be altered and some journeys out of Basingstoke will run only as far as Alresford. This service will no longer serve Basingstoke Hospital but passengers will be able to pay an additional nominal transfer charge of 20p at the bus station and travel on bus service 1 which goes into the hospital every 20 minutes. "By making these changes and reducing the contract price down by bringing the service into a two vehicle operation, it is anticipated that passenger subsidy levels will be brought to a more acceptable level and that it will be possible to extend the external funding period beyond March 2007." The changes will be introduced in early June. To find out more about the Cango service or to book a seat call 0845 6024135 or visit the website at cango.hants.gov.uk.
