This week, Rebecca has commented on the changes to bus services locally, particularly the loss of the regular 21 route through Manor Road, Rushbottom Lane and Kents Hill Road North and the frequency of services to Southend Hospital.
Rebecca met with First Bus two weeks ago and went through the details of how these decisions were reached.
She expressed her disappointment with the changes but said that she had "examined the process they used to change the route and believe that the company followed the required guidance and based its decision on passenger numbers and usage. Simply put, there were not enough people using parts of the route for it to remain commercially viable."
She went on to say, "That does not mean, however, that the service is not important! I know many residents, especially older people, rely on this route to get to appointments at Southend Hospital and to stay connected with family, friends and local services.
"I am pleased to see that they have increased the frequency on other routes and provided a new route from Canvey to Rayleigh and Hullbridge."
Rebecca announced that she had written to Essex County Council asking them to look at whether support can be provided based on social need and community value. As the local transport authority, ECC already subsidises a number of bus services across the county, mainly in North Essex, where routes are not commercially viable but are considered important for residents. It also receives significant government funding to support and improve local bus services.
Rebecca has promised to keep updated when she receives a response. You can see a comprehensive summary of changes below:
Changes to the 21 Service
The timetable has been revised to provide an hourly service between Southend, Southend Hospital, Leigh, Leigh Station, Hadleigh, Benfleet and Canvey Newlands.
At school times, two journeys in the morning and one in the afternoon will run as the 21S.
The Service has been able to continue thanks to the support of Southend-On-Sea City Council, including the provision of an hourly service between Southend and Leigh.
The section of the route between Thorpe Bay and Southend will no longer run, with alternative buses provided by Arriva on routes 7 and 8.
The section of the route via Rushbottom Lane, Manor Road and Kents Hill Road North will only be covered by school-day journeys with the 21S. At other times of day, the 21 will run between Tarpots Corner and the Kents Hill Road/Bread and Cheese junction via the A13.
22 Service (Basildon - Pitsea - Benfleet - Canvey)
Revised timetable. The Service will run every 20 minutes Monday to Friday, and every 30 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays.
Overall combined frequency of every 10 minutes on weekdays and 15 minutes on weekends between Canvey and Benfleet via Long Road and Link Road with the 27 Service.
27 Service (Southend - Westcliffe - Leigh - Hadleigh - Benfleet - Canvey)
Most customers use the 27 Service in two distinct sections, and the Service will be rerouted to reflect this pattern of usage.
From Hadleigh Victoria House Corner, the 27 will run to Rayleigh Weir, Rayleigh and Hullbridge, creating new north-south links between several large communities and offering new journey opportunities.
The section of the route between Benfleet, Thundersley and Southend is replaced by an increased frequency on the 28 Service.
27 Service buses will run every 20 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays. The level of service provided by the 22, 27 and 827 in the morning from Canvey to Benfleet is unchanged.
The Service continues to provide a coordinated headway with the 22 Service between Canvey and Benfleet via Long Road and Link Road, every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends. Evening journeys run between Canvey Leigh Beck and Rayleigh Station, with late evening service to Hullbridge provided by the 20 Service.
28 Service (Southend - Westcliffe - Leigh - Hadleigh - Pitsea - Basildon)
Frequency increased to run every 7 to 9 minutes Monday to Friday, every 9 to 10 minutes on Saturdays and during School Holiday weekdays, and every 12 to 15 minutes on Sundays.
A new hourly overnight service will run on Monday to Saturday nights, departing Basildon and Southend at midnight, 1am, 2am, 3am and 4am. Later buses will be provided on Sunday evenings.
