Bus Users Left Stranded as Shopper Service is Withdrawn

The shopper bus service between Stanford Rivers and Ongar is to be withdrawn because of a lack of use by local people.

Only three people were using the weekly service which picked up in Little End every Thursday morning and made the return journey later in the day.

The service was introduced a year ago to give those who did not drive some access to the town’s amenities such as the surgeries, pharmacies, bank and shops.

One of the regular passengers said she found it incredible that the parishioners of Stanford Rivers “...do not seem to appreciate what has been organised for them”.

June Smith said she feared that she and her husband, Barry, would be left “stranded” by the decision to end the service. “The time will come when the availability or use of private vehicles will not be possible, either through maturity or petrol price increases and £15.00 for return taxi fares is a large amount to add to the chemist or supermarket purchases,” said June.

No public transport

Discontinued Romford Bus Service

Local people have pointed out that the wider issue of the lack of public transport in the area stemmed from the cancelling in 2009 of the Arriva bus service that used to run between Ongar and Romford.

The operator said a lack of use, soaring fuel costs and discounted fares for people with travel cards meant it was no longer viable.

June added that she knew of at least two families who have decided to move from the area because they needed to be closer to public transport routes; “Residents of Blackmore, Doddinghurst, Fyfield and even Toot Hill have buses running in their villages and I find it  incredible that we, on an A road and commuter route into London, have nothing,” .