Petition launched over service

Nearly 250 people have signed a petition calling for a bus company to fully reinstate a service linking Spalding, Crowland and Peterborough.

Stagecoach East has made the number 37 service every other hour rather than hourly.

But Crowland resident Rodney Sadd is calling for the service to be reinstated highlighting that those living in the village looking to get into Spalding for 9am would need to get a service that arrives at 6.58am.

At the time of writing, 247 people had signed the petition on www.change.org entitled ‘To Keep the No37 Bus Service In It’s Entirety’.

Rodney said: “I have received overwhelming support and several targets have been met.

“I have written to my local MP, Sir John Hayes and the service provider requesting a face-to-face meeting to put our case forward.

“LCC has provided significant financial support to ensure the Sunday service remains in place, whilst also ensuring the early service into Peterborough remains in the timetable.

“Our area is getting bigger and the population is growing, with even more people wanting a better bus service to enable those vital links between our rural areas, towns and city centres.

“I am also aware there has been government funding available to protect these services for the next six months. I do see buses that are well supported with passengers during the day. Yes we may hear alternative views from the provider but it averages out in the long-term, I am sure.

“My other concern was about engagement with the public and local authorities, full prior engagement would have been beneficial to ensure there was wider understanding and engagement.”

Stagecoach East say the removal of the Sunday service was an error on the company’s website but said the changes were needed as the service was “no longer financially viable”.

“Stagecoach alone cannot deliver solutions to the challenges involved or save the bus routes at risk.

“That is why we are calling for a rural connectivity summit, to bring together all the key stakeholders, including local authorities and bus operators, to have an open and honest debate about the financial realities and what innovative solutions may be possible for the longer-term future of rural bus services.”