Local Campaign gets Shopper Bus Service Reinstated

Bus Campaign Leads to Shopper Service Return with New Toot Hill Route

The shopper bus service between Stanford Rivers and Ongar has been reinstated, this time by Essex County Council, following pressure from the local campaigners.

The service, which was withdrawn at the end of March because of a lack of use, has now been extended to Toot Hill.

The new service, which is run by Epping Forest Community Transport, collects at Toot Hill every Monday at 9am and then at Stanford Rivers five minutes later before dropping in Ongar High Street just before 9.15am.

The new route also stops at the new Ongar Hospital before eventually terminating in Epping at 10.10am.

The return leg leaves Epping High Street at midday and picks up on Ongar High Street at 12.55pm.

There will be a flat fare of £3 (single or return) to use the service.

Serious Issue

The decision to reintroduce the service was taken after Parish Clerk Kay Hayden lobbied Essex County Council over a lack of services locally.

She said: “There are a lot of people in Stanford River and Toot Hill who have no other means of getting to town and this is a very serious issue for them.

“Using taxis is out of the question for many because of the high cost so this service really is important to them.”

In the last edition of News & Views, residents said they feared being left stranded and without access to the services and amenities they required in Ongar, including medical and dental surgeries, pharmacies, banking and shops.

The Vice Chairman of the Parish Council, Alan Buckley, called on residents to make the most of the service in order to secure its future.

“It is excellent news that this service now also covers Toot Hill and hopefully this will generate more passengers. The truth is we really need people to use the bus or we may loose it in the future."