Whilst we’re on the subject of buses.
Stuart George from the Isle of Wight Bus Users Group was invited to speak at the Ventnor Town Council (VTC) meeting last week.
The reason for his visit was to discuss the future of the Shanklin to Ventnor rail link bus service, number 16.
Rail link being scrapped
As many will already be aware, from the beginning of September the Wightbus rail link will be abolished.
Mr George explained to the meeting that the number 16 was in fact a combination of two routes. The Wightbus Shanklin to Ventnor service received no funding from the Isle of Wight council, but the Ventnor to St Lawrence service was council funded.
He went on to say that the latter section would be replaced by the number 31 service on Mondays to Fridays, mornings only.
‘Not a loss’
Mr George told the meeting that he’d had seen confidential papers showing that the route was not losing money and the only reason it was being stopped, was due to the school transport contract being awarded to Southern Vectis and Wightbus having to sell the bus that usually serviced the route 16.
He went on to express concern that the bus cuts would put extra pressure on the local car parks and may even prevent residents in Niton and Whitwell from shopping in Ventnor in the future.
Alternatives discussed
In order to tackle the problem that cutting the route would result in, three options were suggested
- 1. Do nothing
- 2. Persuade the IWC to reverse their decision
- 3. Find an alternative operator
As the route was not running at a loss, it was hoped that an alternative operator might be found to provide an alternative to the Number 3 Southern Vectis route.
Sub-committee created
It was agreed to create a sub-committee of councillors to work with Stuart George to find an alternative operator.
Cllrs Robinson, George, Stubbings, and Bonney would form the sub-committee.
Ventnor resident, Klaus Kuhnke, who owns a double decker Routemaster bus, also agreed to join the sub-committee.
Resolutions passed
Following the discussions, Mr George was thanked for his time and two resolutions were passed by councillors.
Firstly, that the clerk write to Edward Giles and Stuart Love to ask for a delay to the withdrawal of service by three months, giving time for an alternative operator to be found.
The second resolution was to seek clarification and justification from the IWC.
