Bus service for villages including Badwell Ash and Walsham le Willows saved by county council

Worried village residents have had key bus services saved by Suffolk County Council following route axing.

Diss-based Simonds Buses, announced it would be axing some of its services due to economic viability.

This left residents in several villages, including Badwell Ash and Walsham le Willows, anxious about accessing key health and education services.

One of these residents is Lisa Kelly, 49, whose 16-year-old daughter is meant to start at West Suffolk College next month.

She said: “I don’t drive and my husband’s at work so I’ve got no means of transport to get my daughter to college in September.

“It was suggested we could car share but I obviously don’t want to put my 16-year-old in just anybody’s car.

“I can’t physically get her to college and if she doesn’t go, I get fined because she’s not going and who’s going to have to pay that fine?”

Concerns such as these prompted several councillors to write to the company and the county council pleading for a solution.

Cllr Richard Winch who said there was strong demand for the early morning and afternoon services to get people to and from school or work, and called for a compromise option to be created.

He added: “Rural routes like these are not just a business, they are a vital public service and there comes a time when subsidy is needed.”

These demands, which also saw intervention from Waveney Valley MP, Adrian Ramsay, were considered by Cllr Chris Chambers, who deals with transport strategy, planning, and waste at the county council.

He said the council would now use the last of its Bus Recovery funding from the Department of Transport to ensure the 337 and 338 bus routes keep
running until December 27 while the council looks at alternatives for the future.

Simonds Buses has been approached for comment.