A BRAND new bus service connecting Bordon and Whitehill with Greatham, Liss and Petersfield is being piloted from Thursday, July 7, but will only survive if there is enough demand for it.
The weekly service, run by AMK Minicoaches, will form a much needed link following cuts to previous bus routes. It will be subsidised by East Hampshire District Council, Hampshire County Council, Whitehill Town Council and Greatham and Liss Parish Councils.
There has been no bus service between Petersfield and Bordon for more than two years after a regular Stagecoach service was ended. Since then there have been a number of local campaigns to get a bus route reinstated, and the pilot is being run to see if there is enough demand for the service from passengers.
Geoffrey Whittle, East Hampshire's rural access and rural affairs portfolio holder, said: "I am very pleased with the level of co- operation that has taken place to set up this long-awaited service. I hope that we will see many people using the buses over the six- month pilot. At the end of that time we will be assessing if there is enough interest to justify running it permanently. The message to local people is please use it or lose it."
Adam Carew agreed: "This is a great piece of news. On being elected in 2003, I made strong representations about cuts to the number 38 bus service from Bordon and Whitehill to Petersfield, following a series of letters I had received from local residents. Bordon and Whitehill have very poor transport links and cuts to the 38 and 18 buss services made the matter worse.
"I was approached to help set up a meeting with Hampshire County Council - this I did with the support of the EHDC transport officer and it was agreed that a one-day- a-week pilot scheme could be considered, providing that the parishes could meet half the cost and the county provide the other.
"It has been frustrating that this project has taken almost two years to come to fruition but after much work behind the scenes I am delighted to finally announce the arrival of the new 73 pilot bus service. I am particularly gratified as it has been designed to take in outlying areas en route such as Blackmoor."
He then said: "I regret this service is only one day a week, but it is better than nothing. If it is a success there will be a good case for extending it. We have asked that the powers that be do everything they can to ensure its properly advertised. If it is not used it will probably be axed.
He concluded: "I would to say a big personal thanks to Gwil Williams at EHDC, John Mariner at Hampshire County Council and Chris Keech at AMK for helping to make this pilot service a reality and to Whitehill Town Council and Transport Health Check for their support."
The service runs from 9 am to 1-30 pm every Thursday. Fares cost up to £3.40 for a return between the railway station at Petersfield and One Stop on the A325 in Bordon. Timetables are available from parish council offices, EHDC offices, local shops, including the Post Office in Greatham and Tescos in Bordon and libraries.
Town mayor, Faith Thomas concluded: "This is great news, please encourage everyone to use it - I know I will. And let us know what you think of the service."
If anyone would like further information, contact East Hampshire District Council's transport development fficer Gwil Williams on 01730 234013.