Hedingham boss listens to MP’s concerns about bus services
Witham MP Priti Patel has met with Rupert Cox, the new Managing Director of Go East Anglia and the parent company of Hedingham Bus Services, to discuss on going issues with the several services they operate in the Witham constituency.
Priti has been in touch with many constituents from right across the constituency and listened to their concerns about local buses services, including complaints about the late arrival of bus services, in some cases bus services being cancelled without any communication to passengers and concerns over poor performance affecting the 88 and 91 bus services. Priti and Mr Cox had a constructive discussion about these issues and Hedingham Bus Services are working to address and resolve these performance issues which are due to a range of business issues and staff shortages.
Priti also discussed constituent concerns over bus fare payments systems where constituents have not been able to purchase flexible tickets and in some cases have been compelled to purchase a yearly bus pass, sometimes at a cost of over £800, with many constituents asking to be able to pay per trip or per day. This large cost is particularly impacting families and students who rely on the bus services for transport to school.
Speaking after the meeting Priti said: “I would like to thank Mr Cox for taking the time to meet with me to discuss the ongoing issues with the Hedingham Bus Service which many of my constituents have raised with me. We had a constructive but frank conversation about the reliability of services and the concerns many families have around the yearly school bus pass which can cost into the hundreds of pounds. I was able to raise a number of constituency cases with Mr Cox, including school transport services and I am pleased that he took on the concerns that I have raised about the services. I urge any constituents who are having issues with Hedingham Bus Services to please continue contacting me so that I can raise these directly with the bus company.”