Sir, – I was very distressed to read in The Herald that the No 19 Stagecoach bus is to be axed. I had heard of this possibility, but when I enquired, I had been verbally assured by the Surrey County Council, and the staff at Stagecoach, that the service might have to be cut down, but not discontinued. I understood this and it would be acceptable.
As a widowed pensioner and resident of Lower Bourne, I have used this service regularly – every day when I worked at the health centre, and now two or three times a week.
I have no car and am on a limited income and I relish my independence to travel.
Kind friends do offer lifts when convenient, but I travel to Farnham, the health centre at the hospital (I am recovering from breast cancer) and to Aldershot.
I have met many people on the bus, older than myself, who enjoy the social contact of fellow passengers, and a morning out, as well as necessary shopping.
Some have told me it is almost their only contact with other people.
I love the Bourne, where I have lived for 30-odd years and would be very reluctant to move, but with the possibility of no public transport and the cost of taxis (not to even mention a higher council tax, of course) I will have little choice.
I have found the service to be much more reliable this year apart from traffic delays which are unavoidable. Is there no way funds can be found to continue a limited service of the No 19 bus?
Mrs Barbara Woodroffe, Beech Avenue, Lower Bourne