A CAMPAIGN has been launched to persuade a bus operator to provide services to two villages.
Saracen’s Head and Moulton Seas End are currently not on any bus routes and, according to campaigners, the withdrawal of services has made life increasingly difficult for residents, who face a journey of several miles to the nearest shops.
The push to persuade Norfolk Green to detour on one of its existing routes to loop round into the villages is being spearheaded by three South Holland district councillors – Anthony Casson, Rodney Grocock and Andrew Woolf.
A letter sent out to villagers from the three councillors says: “With the ever-increasing costs of private transport rising steeply for many, owning your own car is becoming increasingly difficult.
“In these current challenging financial times, some local residents are now finding it necessary to rely on public transport more than ever before.
“It does seem completely wrong that in the second decade of the 21st century rural villages are not able to have the benefit of scheduled public transport services.”
They are now asking residents to support their campaign for Norfolk Green to run a trial and are suggesting that between 7.30am and 9.30am and 4.30pm and 6.30pm Monday to Friday, one of the scheduled Norfolk Green services each hour could be re-routed to run on a loop route turning off the A151 through Holbeach via Boston Road to Saracen’s Head then on through Pipwell Gate, Roman Bank to Moulton Seas End and re-joining the A151 at the Loosegate junction.
The letter says: “This would allow shoppers and those working daily to travel to and from Spalding, Holbeach and other towns on the 505 current routes.
“This small detour would surely not be a great additional cost to Norfolk Green, who are providing the current 505 vital service and while the residents of Whaplode would lose four buses from the generous 20-minute schedule, it would provide an enormous asset to these two villages, with the enhanced life which could go with it.”
The councillors will raise their campaign at Spalding and Peterborough Transport Forum’s meeting on April 21.
They can be contacted at acasson@sholland.gov.uk, rgrocock@sholland.gov.uk or awoolf@sholland.gov.uk.