Bus service plan is welcomed on estate

By Mariam Ghaemi Monday, January 23, 2012
9:27 AM

COUNCILLORS have welcomed plans for a new bus service on a large estate following the news another bus operator is pulling out.

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FirstGroup, which currently operates the number 85 on Moreton Hall in Bury St Edmunds, announced it is pulling out of the town completely from March 31.

But Jayne Munson, joint owner of Mulleys bus company which operates in the town, has told the East Anglian Daily Times the firm would start providing a service to the estate instead.

Moreton Hall – which has a population of about 6,000 – is also served by Galloways’ 384/385 service, but this just skirts around the edge of the estate.

Moreton Hall councillor Terry Buckle, who has worked as a transport officer for Suffolk County Council, said: “Mulleys is a good company. I used to deal with Mulleys through the council. It’s good news for the estate.”

Trevor Beckwith, also a Moreton Hall councillor, said: “I really hope if they [Mulleys] are coming in, they talk to us.

“There are quite a lot of people who have done a lot of research on what’s needed, with good ideas. Talk to us and see if we can do something that works. Obviously, they have got to make money. They are a commercial organisation.”

Residents have complained that First’s 85 service takes 45 minutes to get into town.

On a service for Moreton Hall, Mrs Munson said: “It’s something we have been looking at for a while and we will be doing something, yes.”

Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley said he had written to Tim O’Toole, chief executive of FirstGroup, John Griffiths, leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, and Guy McGregor, cabinet member for roads, transport and planning at Suffolk County Council, to “explore as a matter of urgency an alternative bus provision for my constituents”.

He said: “I am completely appalled by their statement that the withdrawal of service will cause ‘minimal disruption’.

“They give as their reason the fact that in Bury St Edmunds their operations ‘have not been commercially viable’. Frankly, there should be no good reason for this except, perhaps, that FirstGroup were not offering a very good service in the first place.”

A First spokesman said: “Our operations at Bury St Edmunds have not been commercially viable for some considerable time and with continued cost increases facing the industry plus the Government’s decision to reduce the BSOG (Bus Service Operators Grant) by 20% from April 2012, we, with regret, have decided to withdraw all services at the end of March.”