THE Alton Eastbrooke and Wooteys Residents Association (AEWRA) launched a new community bus service on Saturday, April 27, in a bid to bridge the gap left by the withdrawal by Stagecoach of the No65 and No38 town centre services.

To run for a three month trial period, the aim is to support the Stagecoach No9 bus which currently provides a two-hour service on a Tuesday morning.

Using existing bus stops, the new community bus will run every half hour on Tuesday afternoons between 2pm and 4pm and on Saturdays between 10am and 2pm using a circular 30-minute route to link the Manor, Wooteys and Eastbrooke estates with the town centre, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, and (on Tuesdays) Alton Health Centre.

A cross-party initiative, the service will be operated for AEWRA by Community First and supported by donations from organisations and individuals, with a suggested donation of £1 per journey, needed to maintain and develop the service.

AEWRA chair, Graham Titterington said: "There is no upper time limit on this service, but we are entering into it in the understanding that it will run to the advertised schedule for at least three months, after which we will review where we are and if any changes are desirable.

"In theory anything could happen at this review, but we very much hope that the service will continue and become as permanent as anything is in this world!"

The bus can carry only one wheelchair, and wheelchair journeys must be booked in advance on 01420 475759.

The cost of hiring and running a minibus from Community First stands at £60 per session - or around £520 a month, and the trial has been supported by Community First, Radian, Bookers & Bolton, the Alton Society, Specsavers and Alton Lions.

The community bus service was first considered seriously following a public meeting, supported by Community First and held in September last year for those living in the Eastbrooke and Wooteys wards who rely on public transport for their mobility.

It was clear from the meeting, confirmed by a bus survey and a one-day trial to coincide with Alton’s Yuletide event that, with the cuts to the Stagecoach services, a large section of the community felt socially isolated, unable to take part in community events and activities, and struggling to access shops and local services. The onus is now on members of the local community to use the service.

The new bus timetable can be accessed at www.eastbro okeandwooteys.org/